In Heaven or Closed Eyes
Currently on view
Odilon Redon (1840 - 1916), 1889
oil on cardboard, 45 cm x 35 cm
Credits: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (State of the Netherlands)
This woman with her closed eyes is an intriguing figure. She symbolizes Redon’s views on art. Essentially, he wanted to turn his gaze inwards. Undistracted by visible reality, he found the true inspiration for his art in that inner world. The woman’s halo underlines the spiritual resonance of the image.
In 1889, Odilon Redon noted the sale of this painting to Theo van Gogh in his account book. He was still calling it In Heaven at that time. Later, he gave it its present title: Closed Eyes. In 1890, Theo also bought a print featuring one of Redon’s many variations on the same theme.
Download the full catalogue entry (pdf, 1.8 MB)
- Object number
- s0500N1999
- Dimensions
- 45 cm x 35 cm, 74.3 cm x 64.5 cm, 8 cm
- Provenance
- Sold by the artist, Paris, to Theo van Gogh, Paris for FRF 200, 8 July 1889; after his death on 25 January 1891 transferred by his widow Jo van Gogh-Bonger, Bussum to his sister Willemina van Gogh; sold by Willemina van Gogh, probably through Joan van Houten, to Andries Bonger, Amsterdam, between March and August 1907; after his death on 20 January 1936 inherited by his widow, Françoise W.M. Bonger-van der Borch van Verwolde, Amsterdam; after her death in 1975 bequeathed to her heirs, the Netherlands; donated by these heirs to the State of the Netherlands to be placed in the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, 18 December 1999.
- artist
- Odilon Redon
- Credits
- Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (State of the Netherlands)
Copenhagen, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Odilon Redon. Into the dream, 11 October 2018-20 January 2019
Otterlo, Kröller-Müller Museum, Odilon Redon: Literatuur en Muziek, 2 June-9 September 2018, no. 24
Riehen, Fondation Beyeler, Odilon Redon, 2 February-18 May 2014, no. zonder nr.
Madrid, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Surrealism and the dream, 8 October 2013-14 January 2014, no. 14
Madrid, Fundación MAPFRE, Odilon Redon, 11 February-29 April 2012, no. 51
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Odilon Redon en Emile Bernard. Meesterwerken uit de collectie van Andries Bonger, 10 April-20 September 2009, no. 100
Gifu, Museum of Fine Arts Gifu, Odilon Redon : le souci de l'absolu, 8 October-8 December 2002, no. 122
Shimane Art Museum, Odilon Redon : le souci de l'absolu, 2 August-23 September 2002, no. 122
Gifu, Museum of Fine Arts Gifu, Odilon Redon : le souci de l'absolu, 8 October-8 December 2002, no. 122
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Odilon Redon : Prince of Dreams, 1840-1916, 20 October 1994-15 January 1995, no. Niet in catalogus
Enschede, Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Odilon Redon 1840-1916 : tekeningen, litho's, pastels en schilderijen uit Nederlands bezit, 1 December 1984-20 January 1985, no. 18
Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, André Bonger en zijn kunstenaarsvrienden: Redon, Bernard, Van Gogh, 6 June-6 August 1972, no. 10
The Hague, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Odilon Redon, 3 May-23 June 1957, no. 172
Arnhem, Vereniging voor Beeldende Kunst Arnhem, Tentoonstelling van Odilon Redon: Schilderijen, tekeningen, litho’s, 26 March-4 April 1948, no. 7
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Moderne Kunst Kring: Ouvrages de peinture, sculpture, dessin, gravure: exposée au Musée Municipal Suasso, 6 October-7 November 1912, no. 107
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum, Moderne Kunst Kring, 6 October-5 November 1911, no. 107
Amsterdam, Larensche Kunsthandel, Tentoonstelling van werken van Odilon Redon (alles particulier bezit), 7-14 May 1909, no. 14
The Hague, Haagsche Kunstkring, Odilon Redon, 20 May-1 July 1894
The Hague, Haagsche Kunstkring, Odilon Redon, May-June 1894, no. 1
Brussels, Les Vingt, Les XX. VIIe exposition annuelle, 18 January-23 February 1890, no. 1
Stolwijk, Chris, Veenenbos, H., Heugten, Sjraar van, account book of Theo van Gogh and Jo van Gogh-Bonger, 2002, pp. 16, 43, 139, 200
Stolwijk, Chris, Veenenbos, H., Heugten, Sjraar van, account book of Theo van Gogh and Jo van Gogh-Bonger, 2002, pp. 16, 43, 139, 200
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The painting in the original frame
