Odilon Redon (born Bertrand Redon. 20 April 1840 – 6 July 1916) was a French symbolist painter, printmaker, draughtsman and pastellist. Early in his career, both before and after fighting in the Franco-Prussian War, he worked almost exclusively in charcoal and lithography, works referred to as noirs. He started gaining recognition after his drawings were mentioned in the 1884 novel “A rebours” (Against Nature) by Joris-Karl Huysmans. During his early years as an artist, Redon’s works were described as “a synthesis of nightmares and dreams”, as they contained dark, fantastical figures from the artist’s own imagination.[20] His work represents an exploration of his internal feelings and psyche.