The Beacon

1867–1915

Begins the journal “To Myself”

From 1867 Redon kept a journal, “À soi-même” (“To Myself”), setting out his views on art and creation; the last entries date from 1915.

1880s

Death of his firstborn son Jean

Redon and Camille’s firstborn son, Jean, died at six months old. The artist was so downcast that for a time he could not work; the birth of a second son in 1889 helped him recover from his grief.

1881

First exhibition of his “black” drawings

At the premises of La Vie moderne Redon exhibited all his “noir” drawings for the first time.

1884

Huysmans’s novel “Against Nature” makes him known

After the publication of Joris-Karl Huysmans’s novel “À rebours” in 1884 the public began to take an interest in Redon: the book’s hero assembled a collection of art that included Redon’s drawings.

1886

The eighth Impressionist exhibition

Redon took part in the eighth and last Impressionist exhibition.

from 1890

The turn from “noirs” to colour

From 1890 Redon turned more and more to oil and pastel and gave up his “black” works; after 1900 he made no more noirs. He explained the change by saying he had realised that the unwinding ribbon of life brings not only sorrow but joy.