Who painted Le Jour (Day)?

Le Jour (Day) was painted by Odilon Redon in 1891.

Where can I see Le Jour (Day)?

Le Jour (Day) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Le Jour (Day)?

Le Jour (Day) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Le Jour (Day)

Odilon Redon , 1891

Le Jour (Day) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Le Jour, executed in 1891, is a lithographic print by French symbolist Odilon Redon. The work presents a luminous sky where a radiant sun pierces a field of softly swirling clouds, creating a tranquil, almost ethereal atmosphere. Though a print, the image conveys a sense of depth uncommon in many 19th‑century lithographs, inviting the viewer into a quiet moment of daylight.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a bright sun surrounded by gentle, rolling clouds that seem to drift in a dreamlike rhythm. The interplay of light and air suggests a contemplation of the passage of time and the fleeting quality of a single day, themes Redon often explored through poetic, non‑narrative imagery.

Technique & Style

The subtle gradations of tone achieved through careful wiping and inking give the clouds a vaporous quality while preserving the crispness of the sun’s outline.

Redon employed the lithographic process, drawing directly onto a limestone surface with greasy mediums before printing. In this piece, he juxtaposes assertive, defined lines with delicate, feather‑like textures, a contrast that enhances the sense of spatial recession. The subtle gradations of tone achieved through careful wiping and inking give the clouds a vaporous quality while preserving the crispness of the sun’s outline.

History & Provenance

Created during Redon’s mature period, Le Jour reflects his shift from charcoal and pastel to color printmaking. The work entered several private collections in the early 20th century before being acquired by a European museum in the 1970s, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of late‑19th‑century symbolist prints.