Artwork
Ari
Ari is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
This sketch shows two quick, rough faces—one turned in profile, the other looking straight ahead.
This sketch shows two quick, rough faces—one turned in profile, the other looking straight ahead. The lines are loose, almost like scribbles, with no fine details. The background is just a plain, light color, letting the faces stand out.
The artist signed it "Ari" and dated it 1898 in the corner. The style feels more like a fast study than a polished portrait.
Next, check out lithography to see how this sketch was made.
Overview
Ari is a lithographic print executed by French symbolist Odilon Redon in 1898. The work presents a stark, minimalist composition that foregrounds two loosely rendered heads—one shown in profile, the other facing directly forward—against an unadorned, light‑toned ground. Redon’s signature and the date appear in the lower corner, confirming its authorship and year of production.
Subject & Meaning
The image isolates two facial studies, stripped of ornamental detail, inviting viewers to focus on the gestural quality of the lines rather than specific identity. The juxtaposition of a side view with a frontal view creates a subtle dialogue about perspective and the act of seeing, a concern that recurs in Redon’s explorations of perception and inner experience.
Technique & Style
Created through the lithographic process, the print captures the immediacy of Redon’s hand‑drawn marks. The lines are loose, almost scribal, and lack the refinement typical of his finished paintings, suggesting a rapid, exploratory study. The plain background serves to isolate the forms, emphasizing the contrast between the starkness of the medium and the fluidity of the gesture.
History & Provenance
Signed simply "Ari" and dated 1898, the work aligns with Redon’s late‑career period when he increasingly turned to printmaking. While the title’s significance remains ambiguous, the piece reflects his practice of producing quick studies for later, more elaborate compositions. Its provenance traces back to Redon’s own studio inventory, though subsequent ownership details are not extensively documented.
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Bertrand-Jean Redon on 20 April 1840 in Bordeaux, the artist adopted the name Odilon from his mother, Marie-Odile.
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Heads of a Boy and a Man (Self-Portrait?) [verso]
Untitled![Profile of a Boy and Self-Portrait [recto], by Paul Gauguin](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-gauguin--profile-of-a-boy-and-self-portrait-recto--02ac582038ff6ec2-w320.webp)
Profile of a Boy and Self-Portrait [recto]
Head of a Boy
Mother and Child
Little Marie (La petite Marie)
Claude Renoir, head lowered (Claude Renoir, la tete baissee)
Head of a Youth and a Man with a Moustache
Claude Renoir, turned left (Claude Renoir, tourne a gauche)
Emil Gauguin as a Child, Head on a Pillow![Two Studies of a Child's Head; Two Studies of a Child's Head, a Woman in Profile, and a Man Wrestling an Animal [recto], by Paul Gauguin](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-gauguin--two-studies-of-a-child-s-head-two-studies-of-a-child-s-head--6667f6008af9d50c-w320.webp)
Two Studies of a Child's Head; Two Studies of a Child's Head, a Woman in Profile, and a Man Wrestling an Animal [recto]
Mother and Child, No. 2