Artwork
Breton Village
Breton Village is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left, in red and purple paint: ODILON REDON.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Odilon Redon's 1890 painting Breton Village is classified as a landscape that depicts a house. The work presents a straightforward architectural subject without additional symbolic elements or complex iconography described in the available records. As a representation of a rural dwelling, the painting focuses on the structure itself rather than allegorical meaning or narrative content.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1890, Breton Village is an oil painting on canvas by Odilon Redon. The work measures 22.5 cm in height and 32.5 cm in width. Stylistically, the piece is classified as a landscape genre painting that depicts a house.
History & Provenance
No exhibition history is mentioned in the documented provenance, and the National Gallery’s records do not list prior public displays of the painting.
Odilon Redon executed Breton Village in 1890 as an oil painting on canvas. The work's documented ownership begins with Simone Deluy of France, who retained the piece until 1958. In that year, Deluy sold the painting to Wildenstein & Co. in New York, a transaction confirmed by correspondence dated December 14, 1998, found in National Gallery of Art curatorial files.
Wildenstein & Co. subsequently sold the artwork in November 1969 to collectors Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia. The Mellons held the painting for twenty-five years before presenting it as a gift to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1994.
Breton Village is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C. The work entered the museum in 1994 as a gift from the Paul and Virginia Mellon Foundation, recorded in the institution’s accession files. Its earlier ownership includes Simone Deluy in France, followed by a 1958 sale to Wildenstein & Co. in New York and a November 1969 purchase by Paul and Virginia Mellon. No exhibition history is mentioned in the documented provenance, and the National Gallery’s records do not list prior public displays of the painting.
Overview
Odilon Redon's Breton Village, an oil on canvas painting from approximately 1890, presents a serene landscape. The work depicts a quiet street within a Breton village, characterized by small, closely set houses under a pale sky. This piece exemplifies Redon's exploration of atmospheric effects and subjective interpretation in his landscapes, moving beyond strict realism to evoke a particular mood.
Context
Created around 1890, Breton Village reflects broader artistic shifts occurring in the late 19th century. During this period, many artists moved away from purely objective representation, experimenting with new methods to convey light, atmosphere, and subjective experience. Redon's painting aligns with this trend, using color and form to suggest an internal vision or emotional resonance rather than merely documenting an external scene.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Odilon Redon (born Bertrand Redon; French: ; 20 April 1840 – 6 July 1916) was a French Symbolist draftsman, printmaker, and painter.
