Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Twisted Tree

Name Class Date

bertrand redon, Twisted Tree. Public domain.

The facts

Artist
bertrand redon artsdot.com/en/artists/bertrand-redon/
Artist’s dates
1840 – 1916
Original size
32 x 30 cm

In context

Twisted Tree — bertrand redon

How big is it?

The original measures 32 × 30 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1840
  2. 1850
  3. 1860
  4. 1870
  5. 1880
  6. 1890
  7. 1900
  8. 1910

Shaded: the lifetime of bertrand redon (1840–1916)

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/bertrand-redon-twisted-tree-D5D9WU-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Phthalo Green #251a16

    Catalogued palette

    • #251A16
    • #593A25
    • #794D2F
    • #3B281D
    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Phthalo Green
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Serene How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    bertrand redon

    Born in Bordeaux, France

    early life and career

    bertrand redon, a french symbolist artist, was born in 1840 in bordeaux, france. he worked primarily in charcoal and lithography early in his career, producing works known as his noirs. redon gained recognition after his drawings were mentioned in the 1884 novel à rebours (against nature) by joris-karl huysmans.

    artistic style and influences

    during the 1890s, redon began working in pastel and oil, which became his preferred medium. he developed a keen interest in hindu and buddhist religion and culture, which increasingly showed in his work. redon is best known for the dreamlike paintings created in the first decade of the 20th century, which were inspired by japanese art and leaned toward abstraction.

    notable works

    some of redon's notable works include:

    twisted tree (charcoal, 32 x 30 cm), a characteristic example of his early work.

    concern for the absolute… philosopher (charcoal, 43 x 35 cm), showcasing his unique blend of philosophy and art.

    the grief (charcoal, 51 x 37 cm), a poignant representation of his ability to evoke emotions through his work.

    museums and collections

    redon's works can be found in various museums, including the musée d'art moderne (france), which houses an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art. the musée gustave moreau in paris also features redon's work, showcasing his contribution to french symbolism.

    legacy

    bertrand redon's work is considered a precursor to surrealism, and his influence can be seen in many subsequent art movements. his unique style, blending the boundaries of philosophy, culture, and art, has cemented his place as a pioneer of french symbolism.

    view more of bertrand redon's works on AllPaintingsStore.

    explore the musée d'art moderne (france) collection on AllPaintingsStore.

    discover more about french symbolism and its influential artists on wikipedia.

    experience the world of bertrand redon's art through AllPaintingsStore's museum-quality reproductions.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Twisted Tree

    artsdot.com/en/art/download/bertrand-redon-twisted-tree-D5D9WU-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    redon, bertrand. Twisted Tree. n.d., https://artsdot.com/en/art/bertrand-redon-twisted-tree-D5D9WU-en/
    APA
    redon, bertrand (n.d.). Twisted Tree [Painting]. https://artsdot.com/en/art/bertrand-redon-twisted-tree-D5D9WU-en/
    Chicago
    bertrand redon. Twisted Tree. n.d. https://artsdot.com/en/art/bertrand-redon-twisted-tree-D5D9WU-en/
    Harvard
    redon, bertrand (n.d.) Twisted Tree. Available at: https://artsdot.com/en/art/bertrand-redon-twisted-tree-D5D9WU-en/

    Look closely

    Twisted Tree — bertrand redon

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at Rider on the Beach with Two Ships (1908), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?
    5. If you could ask the artist one question about this work, what would it be?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.