Breton Village — Daily Hue for August 11, 2026
Odilon Redon · c. 1890 · National Gallery of Art
Hidden color: Dark Moderate Azure (#3091b0)
About this puzzle
The buildings in Odilon Redon’s *Breton Village* are arranged across a quiet landscape, with simple houses and trees spread across the scene. Redon uses muted greens, browns, and pale blues rather than the bright colors found in some of his later work. The forms are simplified enough that the village feels less like a detailed record of a specific place and more like an impression of the countryside. The small scale of the buildings compared with the surrounding landscape also gives the scene a peaceful, open feeling.
Redon was a French artist who is often associated with Symbolism, although his work changed quite a bit throughout his career. He became particularly known for his imaginative drawings and prints, many of which featured strange figures, dreamlike subjects, and unusual combinations of forms. His earlier work was often much darker, while his later paintings made greater use of color. *Breton Village*, painted in 1890, comes from a period when he was still working primarily in more subdued tones. The setting is also different from the mysterious creatures and fantastical images that are often associated with Redon. Here, he focuses on an ordinary rural landscape and uses the arrangement of the houses, trees, and open ground to create the composition. The simplicity of the scene makes small details, such as the placement of the buildings and changes in color across the landscape, more noticeable.