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A SELECTION OF IRAQI ART FROM THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF THE LATE DR KHALID AL-QASSAB Born in Baghdad, Al-Qassab delved into art at a time when he was studying medicine. He began an association with a group of friends who shared his interest in art and culture that was to eventually comprise of Ismail Al-Sheikhly, Zeid Salih, Mahmoud Sabri, Qutaiba Al Sheikh Nouri, Kadhim Haydar, Nouri Al-Rawi, Ghazi Al Saudi, Faik Hassan, Mohammed Ali Shaker, Jewad and Lorna Selim amongst others. Passionate about their artistic endeavours and fervour, they would often travel to the countryside, often in the North of Iraq to paint in an effort to capture the beauty of their surroundings onto canvas and paper. In 1950 the group established themselves as Al-Ruwad, or the Pioneers group, which was originally referred to as Société Primitive, that aimed to bridge the gap between modernity and heritage by launching the awakening of an Iraqi national identity that was exemplified in bold styles of painting, sculpture and architecture. Their first exhibition was held at Al-Qassab's parental home in Baghdad in October 1950, which included 150 pieces and garnered so much attention that over 400 people visited the exhibition over the space of a week. In 1956, Al-Qassab co-founded the Iraqi Artists Society and became one of the founding members of the Baghdad Society for Iraqi Heritage in 1967 while continuously exhibiting his paintings and practicing medicine as a successful doctor. Having been honoured with an exhibition by the Ministry of Information in both 1986 and 1990, Al-Qassab was eventually forced to leave his beloved city as the political instability rocked the country in the early 2000s. He sadly passed away shortly after in 2004. The selection of works from the late Doctor's collection offers a delightful insight into the burgeoning art scene in Iraq from the 1950s onwards while offering an intimate view into cherished memories and exciting adventures between long-lasting friends especially as each of the works were gifted or exchanged over the decades in which Al-Qassab was active within the art scene. This includes works by Faik Hassan, Zeid Salih, Faraj Aboo, Mahmoud Sabri, Saadi Al-Kaabi, Khudeir Shakarji, Dia Al-Azzawi, Ismail Fattah, Mohammed Ghani Hikmat, Noori Al-Rawi and Ardash Kakafan. A SELECTION OF IRAQI ART FROM THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF THE LATE DR KHALID AL-QASSAB

Mahmoud Sabri (Iraqi, 1927-2012)

Untitled

Details

Mahmoud Sabri (Iraqi, 1927-2012)
Untitled
signed in Arabic (on the reverse)
oil and acrylic on canvas
36 3/8 x 53 7/8in. (92.5 x 137cm.)
Painted circa 1950s

Provenance

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner.

Special notice

Lots are subject to 5% import Duty on the importation value (low estimate) levied at the time of collection shipment within UAE. For UAE buyers, please note that duty is paid at origin (Dubai) and not in the importing country. As such, duty paid in Dubai is treated as final duty payment. It is the buyer's responsibility to ascertain and pay all taxes due.

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Lot Essay

Often overlooked as a result of his exile to Europe in the 1960s, Mahmoud Sabri was known for his commitment to very Leftist views that manifested themselves within his painting from the 1950s. He remained committed to expressing the suffering of the lower class as well as political disasters and issues of which the present lot is a seminal example. With his use of an aggressive and emotional palette of reds and blacks, Sabri recreates a scene of suffering and hardship, particularly of the farming and rural peasants who endured the brunt of the political regime at the time.

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