.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The present painting, dated 1990, is from Safwan Dahoul's 'Blue Period', considered the pinnacle of his oeuvre. Born in 1961, the Syrian artist graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus and later decided to travel to Belgium to explore its rich artistic heritage. He was thus inspired by the masters of the Flemish Renaissance period, familiarized with European art history and particularly fascinated by Picasso's Blue period (1901-1904). Characteristic of Dahoul's muted palette (often attributed to the subdued colours of his hometown Syria), this painting offers an array of blue hues.
Dahoul's everyday scene is glorified in blue compared to his later paintings in which he deliberately abandons colour after the misfortunate death of his wife, Nawar, as revealed in his work Rêve 47 (see lot 36, Part I). The subject dominates the composition, and thus leaves marginal space for movement - another characteristic of Dahoul's signature style. This painting captures many of Dahoul's recurring themes of solitude, scale, space, dreams, reality and freedom. The artist was influenced and inspired by Syrian Modern artists, such as Fateh Moudarres.
Dahoul's everyday scene is glorified in blue compared to his later paintings in which he deliberately abandons colour after the misfortunate death of his wife, Nawar, as revealed in his work Rêve 47 (see lot 36, Part I). The subject dominates the composition, and thus leaves marginal space for movement - another characteristic of Dahoul's signature style. This painting captures many of Dahoul's recurring themes of solitude, scale, space, dreams, reality and freedom. The artist was influenced and inspired by Syrian Modern artists, such as Fateh Moudarres.