Ares Appraisal

Abstracted Portrait in Watercolor and Ink, signed 'Ares 49'

This is an original watercolor and ink painting depicting an abstracted portrait, likely of a female, executed in a semi-expressionistic or fauvist style. The dominant colors include warm tones such as orange, yellow, and red, particularly concentrated on the facial features like the cheek, nose, and lips, suggesting light or a vibrant complexion. These are contrasted with cool blues, deep purples, and grays that define the background, hair, and outlines, creating a dynamic visual interplay. The artwork uses fluid watercolor washes, allowing colors to bleed and blend, which is characteristic of the medium. Overlaid on these washes are distinctive strong, calligraphic black ink lines that define the facial structure, hair, and some surrounding abstract shapes, adding depth and a graphic quality to the piece. The subject's gaze is directed slightly to the left, with expressive eyes and full lips. The painting appears to be executed on a piece of paper, possibly acid-free, given the relative lack of heavy discoloration, though some age-related toning of the paper is visible along the edges. The upper edge shows a series of small, evenly spaced perforations, suggesting it may have been torn from a sketchpad or watercolor block. The artwork is signed in the lower right corner with what appears to be 'Ares 49', indicating the artist's name and the year of creation as 1949, consistent with the provided context. The visible frame or mounting material at the top and bottom suggests it might be temporarily fixed or previously framed, showing some minor wear and tear on these external elements rather than the artwork itself. The craftsmanship demonstrates a confident hand with both brushwork and line work, effectively conveying emotion and form through abstraction.