Odilon Redon (1840-1916) ~ Pilgrim of the Sublunary World from Dreams, lithograph, 1891

On the satin back of the avalanche soft, 
She falls into lingering swoons, as she dies, 
While she lifteth her eyes to white visions aloft, 
Which like efflorescence float up to the skies. 
Charles Baudelaire, Tristesses de la lune from Fleurs du Mal

Born today...Charles Pierre Baudelaire, poet, April 9, 1821, Paris, France

The Spiritual Dawn

When upon revellers the stained dawn breaks 

The fierce ideal comes with it; at that hour, 

Stirred by some terrible avenging power, 

An angel in the sated brute awakes. 

Above the stricken, suffering man there glow 

Far azure plains of unimagined bliss 

Which draw his dreaming spirit like the abyss. 

O pure, beloved Goddess, even so 

O'er the smoked wrecks of stupid scenes of shame 

Brighter and rosier thy sweet memory 

Hovers before my wide eyes hauntingly...

The Sun has dimmed and charred the candles' flame, 

And thus, my glorious all-conquering one, 

Thy shade is peer to the immortal Sun

~ Fleurs du mal / Flowers of Evil

image: Carlo Farneti (1892-1961) illustration for Les Fleurs du Mal 1935

Marguerite Burnat-Provins (1872-1950) ~ Untitled, watercolour and goauche date unknown

Marguerite Burnat-Provins (1872-1952) ~ Lucifer, watercolour, date unknnown

Hymn to the Sun ~ Bhaskar Raga, Hindol Putra, Upper Punjab, Kangra, gouache on cardboard late eighteenth century.

Unica Zürn (1916 – 1970) ~ Composition, pen and ink, c1955

Émile Henri Bernard (1868-1941) ~ Ink drawing for La Fin de Satan by Victor Hugo 1935

Reinhold Nägele (1884-1972) ~ Ex Libris 1921

                                    

Dolorosa de la Cruz ... Kali, devotional drawing, gouache and gold ink on paper 2018

Erwin Stolz (1896 -1987) ... Celestial Figures, pen and ink drawing with monogram, date unknown

Alice Rahon (1904-1987)... Composition surréaliste, gouache on paper, 1944

Edward Gordon Craig (1872-1966) ... Mask of the Fool, circular woodcut on japan paper c1911