The Battle of the Bones
about 1881
- Medium
- Charcoal
- Dimensions
- 36.5 × 45 cm
- Status
- In Museum Collection
- Collect24 Art ID
- C24-205206
This visionary drawing by French Symbolist artist Odilon Redon captures the aftermath of a fantastical duel between two skeletons, with broken bones scattered across the scene. Framed against a deep black charcoal background, the wounded skeletons – composed from the blank reserve of the paper rather than the addition of white media - each raise an arm in attempted combat. The figure on the left has been split in two, the legs continuing to stride forward despite the shattered torso laying behind it. The skeleton on the right has lost its head and lower left leg but sits erect and poised to continue the fight. Despite the ghoulish title, this sheet provides an element of humor in its absurdity.
Provenance
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Registry history
- about 1881 — Recorded in the collection of J. Paul Getty Museum — drawings
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