“Garden of Eden,” Ari Harpaz (Romanian/Israeli, 1941–2008), 1985, 22×30 in. signed color lithograph, ed. CCCLXVIII/CCCLXXV (368/375), surreal allegorical scene.
“Garden of Eden” by Ari Harpaz is a striking 1985 surrealist lithograph that interweaves myth, symbolism, and dreamlike imagery into a richly detailed tableau. Hand-signed and numbered CCCLXVIII/CCCLXXV, this rare 22×30 in. print showcases Harpaz’s mastery of Fantastic Surrealism—lush color, precise draftsmanship, and layered narrative imagery—making it an exceptional acquisition for collectors of surreal, figurative, and Israeli–European art.
Artwork Description
“Garden of Eden” unfolds inside an elegant oval frame, set against a deep burgundy backdrop that heightens the drama of the inner scene. At its center stands a sensual, contemplative female figure—part muse, part contemporary Eve—surrounded by an astonishing collection of symbolic elements: birds in flight, a majestic peacock, an apple collapsing into rot, a curling serpent, a violin, carved stone heads, lush foliage, a prowling feline, and a distant modern skyline.
The imagery is rendered with Harpaz’s signature technical finesse. Fine cross-hatching, etched textures, and photo-lithographic tonal layers give the composition depth and intensity. Soft teal, umber, rust, rose, and golden ochre blend into a palette that evokes both earthly richness and mythic otherworldliness.
The work is hand-signed “A. Harpaz” in graphite and numbered in Roman numerals CCCLXVIII/CCCLXXV (368/375). The symbolism is multilayered—temptation, decay, knowledge, sensuality, spirituality, and the collision between ancient myths and modern existence. The violin and cityscape suggest artistic creation as both salvation and distraction. The rotting apple and serpent echo the biblical Eden, but reimagined through a surreal contemporary lens.
The print is marked “SAMPLE” on the verso and has a bend on the lower right corner, visible in the provided photos. These condition notes are collectible-standard disclosures but do not diminish the artwork’s visual impact or interpretive power.
Artist Biography (Ari Harpaz)
Ari (Arie) Harpaz (Romanian/Israeli, 1941–2008) was an internationally recognized surrealist painter, printmaker, and sculptor known for his intricate, psychologically charged compositions. Born in Romania in 1941, he emigrated to Israel as a child, where he received his early education and artistic training. His talent earned him a municipal scholarship from the City of Tel Aviv to study at the Fine Art School under respected instructor Joseph Louizada, who helped develop Harpaz’s exceptional draftsmanship and attention to tonal detail.
Driven to expand his artistic vocabulary, Harpaz traveled to Genoa, Italy, where he studied Fantastic Surrealism under Antonioni Casale. This period shaped the thematic and technical foundations of his mature style—dense surreal imagery, highly symbolic compositions, and impeccably rendered figures that often feel carved, chiseled, or dream-etched into the scene.
Harpaz’s first major exhibition opened in 1975, and from that point forward his work appeared in galleries and shows across Israel, Europe, and the United States. He worked fluidly across media: charcoal drawings, oil paintings, bronze sculptures, and limited-edition lithographs, each demonstrating his ability to blend realism with symbolic intensity.
He collaborated with well-known painters and sculptors including Sandu Liberman, Antoni Juan Lopez, Guy Garcia, and Louis Montoya, further grounding him within international surrealist and figurative art circles.
Critics frequently praised his “hyper-surreal precision”—a style in which even fantastical elements were rendered with meticulous detail, heightening their psychological impact. His subjects often explored mythology, biblical allegory, eroticism, memory, existential struggle, and the complex dynamics of faith and modernity.
Harpaz passed away in 2008, leaving behind a distinctive body of work that remains highly valued among collectors of surrealism and Israeli-European modern art.
Ari Harpaz, Garden of Eden, 1985, color lithograph, 22×30 in., signed lower right, numbered CCCLXVIII/CCCLXXV, surreal symbolic tableau. Condition: marked “SAMPLE” on verso; bend at lower right corner. Strong impression.
Certificate of Value & Authentication
This certifies that “Garden of Eden” (1985) is an authentic original lithograph by Ari (Arie) Harpaz, 1941–2008.
• Medium: Color lithograph on paper
• Size: 22 × 30 in.
• Edition: CCCLXVIII/CCCLXXV (368/375)
• Signature: Hand-signed “A. Harpaz”
• Notes: “SAMPLE” marking on verso; minor bend lower right
Authenticated through signature verification, comparison with known editions, and confirmed provenance via Mitch Morse Gallery. Suitable for appraisal, insurance, and exhibition.
Provenance Chain (Collector Format)
• Artist: Ari Harpaz (Romanian/Israeli, 1941–2008)
• Distributed through fine-art publisher, 1985 edition of 375
• Acquired by Mitch Morse Gallery (NYC, additional sourcing in the U.S. & Europe)
• Sold through Mitch Morse Gallery to private collectors
• Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington DC
“Garden of Eden,” Ari Harpaz (Romanian/Israeli, 1941–2008), 1985, 22×30 in. signed color lithograph, ed. CCCLXVIII/CCCLXXV (368/375), surreal allegorical scene.
“Garden of Eden” by Ari Harpaz is a striking 1985 surrealist lithograph that interweaves myth, symbolism, and dreamlike imagery into a richly detailed tableau. Hand-signed and numbered CCCLXVIII/CCCLXXV, this rare 22×30 in. print showcases Harpaz’s mastery of Fantastic Surrealism—lush color, precise draftsmanship, and layered narrative imagery—making it an exceptional acquisition for collectors of surreal, figurative, and Israeli–European art.
Artwork Description
“Garden of Eden” unfolds inside an elegant oval frame, set against a deep burgundy backdrop that heightens the drama of the inner scene. At its center stands a sensual, contemplative female figure—part muse, part contemporary Eve—surrounded by an astonishing collection of symbolic elements: birds in flight, a majestic peacock, an apple collapsing into rot, a curling serpent, a violin, carved stone heads, lush foliage, a prowling feline, and a distant modern skyline.
The imagery is rendered with Harpaz’s signature technical finesse. Fine cross-hatching, etched textures, and photo-lithographic tonal layers give the composition depth and intensity. Soft teal, umber, rust, rose, and golden ochre blend into a palette that evokes both earthly richness and mythic otherworldliness.
The work is hand-signed “A. Harpaz” in graphite and numbered in Roman numerals CCCLXVIII/CCCLXXV (368/375). The symbolism is multilayered—temptation, decay, knowledge, sensuality, spirituality, and the collision between ancient myths and modern existence. The violin and cityscape suggest artistic creation as both salvation and distraction. The rotting apple and serpent echo the biblical Eden, but reimagined through a surreal contemporary lens.
The print is marked “SAMPLE” on the verso and has a bend on the lower right corner, visible in the provided photos. These condition notes are collectible-standard disclosures but do not diminish the artwork’s visual impact or interpretive power.
Artist Biography (Ari Harpaz)
Ari (Arie) Harpaz (Romanian/Israeli, 1941–2008) was an internationally recognized surrealist painter, printmaker, and sculptor known for his intricate, psychologically charged compositions. Born in Romania in 1941, he emigrated to Israel as a child, where he received his early education and artistic training. His talent earned him a municipal scholarship from the City of Tel Aviv to study at the Fine Art School under respected instructor Joseph Louizada, who helped develop Harpaz’s exceptional draftsmanship and attention to tonal detail.
Driven to expand his artistic vocabulary, Harpaz traveled to Genoa, Italy, where he studied Fantastic Surrealism under Antonioni Casale. This period shaped the thematic and technical foundations of his mature style—dense surreal imagery, highly symbolic compositions, and impeccably rendered figures that often feel carved, chiseled, or dream-etched into the scene.
Harpaz’s first major exhibition opened in 1975, and from that point forward his work appeared in galleries and shows across Israel, Europe, and the United States. He worked fluidly across media: charcoal drawings, oil paintings, bronze sculptures, and limited-edition lithographs, each demonstrating his ability to blend realism with symbolic intensity.
He collaborated with well-known painters and sculptors including Sandu Liberman, Antoni Juan Lopez, Guy Garcia, and Louis Montoya, further grounding him within international surrealist and figurative art circles.
Critics frequently praised his “hyper-surreal precision”—a style in which even fantastical elements were rendered with meticulous detail, heightening their psychological impact. His subjects often explored mythology, biblical allegory, eroticism, memory, existential struggle, and the complex dynamics of faith and modernity.
Harpaz passed away in 2008, leaving behind a distinctive body of work that remains highly valued among collectors of surrealism and Israeli-European modern art.
Ari Harpaz, Garden of Eden, 1985, color lithograph, 22×30 in., signed lower right, numbered CCCLXVIII/CCCLXXV, surreal symbolic tableau. Condition: marked “SAMPLE” on verso; bend at lower right corner. Strong impression.
Certificate of Value & Authentication
This certifies that “Garden of Eden” (1985) is an authentic original lithograph by Ari (Arie) Harpaz, 1941–2008.
• Medium: Color lithograph on paper
• Size: 22 × 30 in.
• Edition: CCCLXVIII/CCCLXXV (368/375)
• Signature: Hand-signed “A. Harpaz”
• Notes: “SAMPLE” marking on verso; minor bend lower right
Authenticated through signature verification, comparison with known editions, and confirmed provenance via Mitch Morse Gallery. Suitable for appraisal, insurance, and exhibition.
Provenance Chain (Collector Format)
• Artist: Ari Harpaz (Romanian/Israeli, 1941–2008)
• Distributed through fine-art publisher, 1985 edition of 375
• Acquired by Mitch Morse Gallery (NYC, additional sourcing in the U.S. & Europe)
• Sold through Mitch Morse Gallery to private collectors
• Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington DC
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