The Sacred Heart (The Buddha)

Odilon Redon was a French Symbolist draftsman, printmaker, and painter. In Le Sacré Coeur (Le Bouddha), which we present today, Redon brings together two spiritual leaders, Jesus and Buddha, in a single figure. Redon believes that an important task for art is to unite religions, although he refutes that he is a "spiritualist" who believes that the spirit lives on after death. His inspiration is the book The Great Initiates: A Study of the Secret History of Religions (1889), in which French philosopher Edouard Schuré explores the similarities between religions. Schuré finds these in the view that the soul is immortal, that the mind is greater than the body, and that humans are capable of spiritual growth. 

This beautiful painting is a part of the "Searching for Meaning" exhibition in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, which is on view until 11 May 2025 devoted to Helene Kröller-Müller, who was one of the first European women to put together a major art collection and is credited with being one of the first collectors to recognize the genius of Vincent van Gogh. Don't miss it! You can read our review here.

P.S. Odilon Redon is known for his beautiful Symbolist paintings but he also created some unsettling images. Here are 9 creatures by Odilon Redon that will give you the creeps!