Artwork Title: The Misshapen Polyp Floated on the Shores, a Sort of Smiling and Hideous Cyclops. Plate III from the

The Misshapen Polyp Floated on the Shores, a Sort of Smiling and Hideous Cyclops. Plate III from the, 1883

Odilon Redon

https://www.moma.org/explore/multimedia/audios/23/528 In his work The Origins, a series of 8 lithograph illustrations done in 1883, Redon depicts another Cyclops, known as No. 3 in the series. You can see a great similarity in style to his larger painting The Cyclops. The eyes of both creatures are large and would otherwise be menacing if it weren't for the sensitive nature in their rendering. No.3 goofily smiles while staring upward to the sky. Not much can be seen of his location but it appears to be outdoors. "The mis-shapen polyp floated on the shores, a sort of smiling hideous Cyclops." The creature, usually meant to be repulsive and terrifying, does not manage to strike fear into the viewer's heart. Just like the other illustrations in the series, the Cyclops of the lithograph may retain his hideous face, but it is hidden under the same gentle quality portrayed in the painting The Cyclops. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cyclops_(Redon))
Uploaded on Apr 20, 2017 by Suzan Hamer

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