This painted figure with closed eyes and a halo is the first ambitious painting that Odilon Redon (1840–1916) exhibited, presumably on the initiative of its new owner, Theo van Gogh (1857–1891). Theo, who in the autumn of 1889 was working hard with the organizer Octave Maus (1856–1919) to get the paintings of his brother Vincent (1853–1890) displayed at the group show of Les XX in Brussels, offered to make available to the exhibition his newly acquired Redon, which was given pride of place as number 1 in the catalogue.

Redon’s work was exhibited at Les XX at the beginning of 1890 under the title Au ciel (In Heaven). While Redon was mainly known from his drawings and prints in sober black, these first cautious steps in colour alerted them to a new direction in his practice. Theo van Gogh, who acquired more work by the artist for the art dealer Boussod, Valadon & Cie (formerly Goupil & Cie), had bought the painting for himself in July 1889 under the title Femme à l’Oreole (Woman with a Halo) and had it put in a heavy oak frame by the frame-maker to the avant-garde, Pierre Cluzel
In Heaven or Closed Eyes in its original frame by Cluzel
(fig. 1).01 The purchase can be thought of as both a declaration of love and a business investment.02 Together with his brother Vincent, Theo dreamed of an existence as an independent art dealer, and he occasionally bought artworks for their private collection that could serve as starting capital.03