Odilon REDON
1840 - 1916
Child's head with flowers
1897
Original lithograph
252 × 212 mm, margins 402 × 328 mm
Fine impression on china paper printed in sanguine, from an edition of approximately 50 proofs, published by Gustave Pellet and printed by Lemercier et Cie, Paris, two small rust stains restored in the lower margin, folds and creases edges along the right edge, several printer’s folds in the margins, marks of former hinges on the verso
Reference: Mellerio 169 a/c
The information about the print run of this print given by Mellerio, Redon’s biographer and great friend, was updated following an exhibition of the Bordeaux artist in Victoria in 1990. Our Tête d’enfant avec fleurs (Child’s head with flowers) is one of the few unnumbered sanguine or black prints not included in the numbered edition of 50.
According to Ted Gott, this print was printed in four states, whereas only one state is specified by Mellerio. An impression of the first state is preserved at the Art Institute of Chicago (1920.1821). It seems that in the subsequent states, the subject continues to be reduced. Our print, the smallest, would belong to the fourth and last state.