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Lot Essay
Being one of the first Iraqi artists to study abroad, Hafidh al-Droubi began his artistic training at the Academia Reale in Rome in 1937 and later at the Goldsmiths College in London. He was one of the co-founders of the Society of the Friends of Art in 1941 alongside Jewad Selim (1921-1960), Faiq Hassan (1914-1991), and Abdul Qadir al Rassam (1882-1952). When he returned to Iraq from London in 1950, he actively took part to the emerging art scene. In 1953, Droubi established the Impressionist Group in correlation with his career as an art educator, advocating an approach to creation using various techniques and stylistic angles. Despite the name of the group, Impressionist principles and aesthetics were rarely followed and there was no consistency in terms of their styles, each developed in a personalised way.
Containing journalistic qualities despite some abstract elements, Droubi’s oeuvre consists of a variety of motifs borrowed from Iraqi heritage and society. Moving freely between different styles such as Cubism, Realism and Impressionism, his works are characterised by unique colours and forms. He understood how light worked and used this to his advantage, creating a dynamic communication between three-dimensional features. All these elements are combined in the present lot that depicts a street scene in Baghdad painted in 1976. What may seem to be an ordinary sight to the viewer is extraordinary to Droubi. He always manages to find a particularity to the scenes that adds a sense of vitality to the piece. Most commonly known for his Cubist works, Droubi didn’t completely adhere to its rules. His work also references an aesthetic that preserves the natural forms he sees. In this piece, everything seems geometric except the protagonists, the man and his donkey, exemplifying his ability to harmoniously fuse Cubist and Naturalist elements in one same composition.
Very much sought after, Droubi’s works have been displayed in several group and solo shows, and are also part of prestigious art collections. He was a seminal figure in the field of art education and was an essential asset to the development of modernism in Iraq. He was greatly dedicated to providing knowledge and resources to the future artists of Iraq. He instilled the values of art education in his students and his peers, and was able to take his practice beyond the boundaries of limitations set by certain styles, making him one of the most celebrated Iraqi artists to date.
Containing journalistic qualities despite some abstract elements, Droubi’s oeuvre consists of a variety of motifs borrowed from Iraqi heritage and society. Moving freely between different styles such as Cubism, Realism and Impressionism, his works are characterised by unique colours and forms. He understood how light worked and used this to his advantage, creating a dynamic communication between three-dimensional features. All these elements are combined in the present lot that depicts a street scene in Baghdad painted in 1976. What may seem to be an ordinary sight to the viewer is extraordinary to Droubi. He always manages to find a particularity to the scenes that adds a sense of vitality to the piece. Most commonly known for his Cubist works, Droubi didn’t completely adhere to its rules. His work also references an aesthetic that preserves the natural forms he sees. In this piece, everything seems geometric except the protagonists, the man and his donkey, exemplifying his ability to harmoniously fuse Cubist and Naturalist elements in one same composition.
Very much sought after, Droubi’s works have been displayed in several group and solo shows, and are also part of prestigious art collections. He was a seminal figure in the field of art education and was an essential asset to the development of modernism in Iraq. He was greatly dedicated to providing knowledge and resources to the future artists of Iraq. He instilled the values of art education in his students and his peers, and was able to take his practice beyond the boundaries of limitations set by certain styles, making him one of the most celebrated Iraqi artists to date.