Mirages was painted by Henri-Gabriel Ibels in 1893.

Where can I see Mirages?

Mirages is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Mirages?

Mirages is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Mirages

Henri-Gabriel Ibels , 1893

Mirages is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri-Gabriel Ibels. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Executed with five inks on Arches laid paper, the work presents a dual composition that juxtaposes two distinct visual realms.

Henri‑Gabriel Ibels produced the lithographic print Mirages in 1893. Executed with five inks on Arches laid paper, the work presents a dual composition that juxtaposes two distinct visual realms. The upper register depicts a verdant, almost ethereal landscape populated by three nude figures, a red wall and a pale horse, while the lower register shows a solitary, hat‑clad man traversing a rugged, rocky path.

Subject & Meaning

The upper scene conveys a sense of languid, dream‑like movement, the figures rendered with softened outlines that suggest fluidity and anonymity. In contrast, the lower portion grounds the viewer in a harsher reality, the lone traveler’s turned‑away gaze and the uneven terrain emphasizing isolation. The juxtaposition invites contemplation of contrasting states—tranquility versus hardship, the idealized versus the concrete.

Technique & Style

Ibels employed the lithographic process, applying five separate colors to achieve the layered effect. The use of Arches laid paper provides a textured surface that enhances the tonal variations between the luminous upper field and the darker lower ground. The print’s uneven stacking of the two scenes reflects a compositional experimentation characteristic of late‑19th‑century French printmaking.

History & Provenance

Created in the early 1890s, Mirages belongs to a period when Ibels was active in the avant‑garde circles of Paris, collaborating with artists associated with the Nabi and Symbolist movements. The work has been documented in several print collections and remains a reference point for studies of his lithographic output, though specific ownership records prior to the mid‑20th century are limited.