Alfred Basbous’s Abstract (1971) is a sublime sculpture standing nearly one metre tall, masterfully crafted from travertine stone. Celebrated for his skillful approach to sculpting formidable materials, Basbous engages with stone in a tactile manner, where visible chisel marks enhance the speckled, organic quality of the piece. The fluid lines and harmonious volumes resonate with the influences of modernist titans such as Auguste Rodin, Jean Arp, and Henry Moore, reflecting a shared aesthetic sensibility.

Alfred Basbous (1924-2006) and his brothers Michel and Joseph were forerunners in the history of modern sculpture in Lebanon. Since the 1950s, they placed Rachana, uphill the town of Batroun in North Lebanon, on the map of the art and culture scene. They made their native remote village an open sky museum and organised festivals and events, including the International Sculpture Symposium that was held from 1994 to 2004. The Basbous Brothers became highly mediatized profiles and were invited to show their works around the world.

Alfred Basbous started his personal career with an exhibition at Galerie Alecco Saab in 1958. In 1960, he received a grant from the French Government to pursue his studies at the Beaux-Arts de Paris under the tutorship of sculptor and medallist René Collamarini. In 1974, he was awarded the Prize of the Alexandria Biennale.