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Lot Essay
Henein’s interest in sculpture hails from a class trip he had taken at the age of eight years old to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Descending from a family of metalworkers in Egypt, he established himself as a renowned sculptor after he had resided in Paris for twenty-five years from 1971 until 1996.
The present bronze sculpture, Le Repos, conveys sensitivity and distortedness in its execution. Completed in 1955, at a time when the artist was travelling around the region of Luxor, the conventional figure is undeniably inspired by a fusion of Pharaonic art and European Modernism while simultaneously reflecting the early complexity and intricacy of the artist. Depicting an Egyptian man resting, possibly a labourer or farmer, the work with its rough execution and sharp edges beautifully renders the figure in the relaxed traditional ‘galabiya’, a long traditional robe worn by many Egyptians. The bulky forms of the figure emerging from the coarse texture of the material used by the artist capture the fleeting moment of the motion of light and are reminiscent of the archeological fragments from Egypt’s rich cultural heritage.
It is obvious that Henein’s heritage is deeply rooted in his sculptures. In this piece, he juxtaposes the life of a sculptor with that of a peasant’s. The laid back labourer rests after a tedious day of work whilst at the same time the sculptor continues to hammer away at the chunk of bronze to create this laid back worker. Although giving them a modernist twist, he still manages to delve into Egypt’s elaborate history. His charm is engraved in these sculptures that hold great mystery in the absence of detail. By using simple, minimalistic lines to achieve the desired outcome, he is able to retain simplicity while still capturing a palpable mythic essence. Through its figurative style, the present sculpture is an exceptional early work by the artist that highlights the artist’s acclaimed career.
The present bronze sculpture, Le Repos, conveys sensitivity and distortedness in its execution. Completed in 1955, at a time when the artist was travelling around the region of Luxor, the conventional figure is undeniably inspired by a fusion of Pharaonic art and European Modernism while simultaneously reflecting the early complexity and intricacy of the artist. Depicting an Egyptian man resting, possibly a labourer or farmer, the work with its rough execution and sharp edges beautifully renders the figure in the relaxed traditional ‘galabiya’, a long traditional robe worn by many Egyptians. The bulky forms of the figure emerging from the coarse texture of the material used by the artist capture the fleeting moment of the motion of light and are reminiscent of the archeological fragments from Egypt’s rich cultural heritage.
It is obvious that Henein’s heritage is deeply rooted in his sculptures. In this piece, he juxtaposes the life of a sculptor with that of a peasant’s. The laid back labourer rests after a tedious day of work whilst at the same time the sculptor continues to hammer away at the chunk of bronze to create this laid back worker. Although giving them a modernist twist, he still manages to delve into Egypt’s elaborate history. His charm is engraved in these sculptures that hold great mystery in the absence of detail. By using simple, minimalistic lines to achieve the desired outcome, he is able to retain simplicity while still capturing a palpable mythic essence. Through its figurative style, the present sculpture is an exceptional early work by the artist that highlights the artist’s acclaimed career.