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Lot Essay
Without a doubt, the city of Alexandria had an everlasting effect on Mahmoud Said’s oeuvre. The Alexandrian sunlight subtly emanates throughout the canvas. The whole composition radiates implausible strength, robustness and movement above everything else. His paintings capture the true essential form of the subject, depicted with dramatic contrast and a vivid combination of light and shadow. On one hand, Saïd creates an en plein-air quality that is found in Impressionist paintings; on the other hand, he exposes Cubist features. The palette, composition and faceted interpretation of the jagged mountain hint to Cézanne's works; yet also present are the distinctive details emblematic of Mahmoud Saïd's oeuvre.
In this work depicting the fishing village of Al Max, a community of fishermen centered around the freshwater canal Mahmoudiah , Saïd’s technical skills are proven, not only by incorporating his knowledge of aerial perspective, but also by defying and experimenting with it. His work involves rare three-dimensional qualities, which cannot be found in the works of other artists in the region. His art almost always had cultural reflections that were rooted in his scenes of peasant girls dressed in traditional attire, of crowded architecture in the city, of groups of men praying, and most importantly, the effect of the vivid sun, the glaring light, and the stillness of a tradition. Warm and cool colors are carefully balanced. Composition, tone and hue are in perfect harmony.
As one of Egypt’s most well-known and renowned modern artists of the 20th century, Mahmoud Saïd was known for his juxtaposition of colors as well as the simplification of his subjects to an almost cubist form. Born in Alexandria in 1897, he studied under Italian painter Amelia Casonato Da Forno (1878-1969) in Alexandria between 1912 and 1916, and later with Arturo Zanieri (1870-1955). Saïd began his career studying law and received his degree in 1919. In an attempt of reacquainting himself with his love for the arts, he pursued a cultural trip across Europe. Saïd was one of the only artists at this time to have the opportunity to embark on such a trip.
During this trip he spent three weeks in Paris, where he attended drawing classes in the ‘free’ section of the prestigious Académie Julian. He also took classes at Antoine Bourdelle’s school, L’Académie de la Grande Chaumière. In addition to his stay in Paris, Saïd ventured to Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, where he discovered masterpieces of Western art in museums and churches. Although being extremely passionate about art, Saïd only practiced it as a hobby until 1947 when he finally resigned from his legal work.
In this work depicting the fishing village of Al Max, a community of fishermen centered around the freshwater canal Mahmoudiah , Saïd’s technical skills are proven, not only by incorporating his knowledge of aerial perspective, but also by defying and experimenting with it. His work involves rare three-dimensional qualities, which cannot be found in the works of other artists in the region. His art almost always had cultural reflections that were rooted in his scenes of peasant girls dressed in traditional attire, of crowded architecture in the city, of groups of men praying, and most importantly, the effect of the vivid sun, the glaring light, and the stillness of a tradition. Warm and cool colors are carefully balanced. Composition, tone and hue are in perfect harmony.
As one of Egypt’s most well-known and renowned modern artists of the 20th century, Mahmoud Saïd was known for his juxtaposition of colors as well as the simplification of his subjects to an almost cubist form. Born in Alexandria in 1897, he studied under Italian painter Amelia Casonato Da Forno (1878-1969) in Alexandria between 1912 and 1916, and later with Arturo Zanieri (1870-1955). Saïd began his career studying law and received his degree in 1919. In an attempt of reacquainting himself with his love for the arts, he pursued a cultural trip across Europe. Saïd was one of the only artists at this time to have the opportunity to embark on such a trip.
During this trip he spent three weeks in Paris, where he attended drawing classes in the ‘free’ section of the prestigious Académie Julian. He also took classes at Antoine Bourdelle’s school, L’Académie de la Grande Chaumière. In addition to his stay in Paris, Saïd ventured to Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, where he discovered masterpieces of Western art in museums and churches. Although being extremely passionate about art, Saïd only practiced it as a hobby until 1947 when he finally resigned from his legal work.