In Greek mythology, the tragic hero Orpheus was renowned for his divine musical talent. His skill was so great that upon his death the muses preserved his head so that he could continue singing forever. To convey this haunting musical experience, Odilon Redon softly blended deep hues of blue pigment with bold, textured strokes of yellow and orange to create an abstract background in which Orpheus�s disembodied head looms like a ghost over his lyre.