Yeux Clos (Closed Eyes)

Odilon Redon

1890

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

About this work

This sketch shows a face with closed eyes, drawn in soft, smudged lines. The hair is loose, and the shoulders slump slightly. The background is faint, with just a hint of a shape below the chin—maybe a collar or cloth. The artist used quick, sketchy strokes, almost like scribbles, to build up the form. The title, *Yeux Clos*, means "Closed Eyes," and the paper has a worn, aged look. Next, check out lithography to see how this print was made.