The Chimera with Green Eyes Turns, Bays
1888
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1888
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a strange creature with a lion’s body, a goat’s head on its back, and a snake for a tail—all glowing green eyes in the dark. Redon made this after reading Flaubert’s wild book about a saint’s nightmares. He didn’t copy the story; he drew the feeling of it—like a bad dream you can’t shake. The thick black lines make the monster feel real, even though it’s not. For more of these eerie, invented creatures, look up Odilon Redon (French, 1840–1916).
