Presenting a unique chance to obtain a rare piece from an esteemed pioneer of Modern Art in the region, the present lot features a breathtaking figure drawing by Moustafa Faroukh. The sanguine (or red chalk) on paper appears to be one of the master’s earlier works, executed during his period of his formal training. The work foreshadows the gestural figuration and humanistic subject matter that would consume the majority of his oeuvre.

Moustafa Farroukh (Lebanese, b. 1901 - d. 1993) is a pivotal figure in the development of Lebanese Modern Art. Educated at the Royal College of Fine Arts in Rome and receiving his diploma in 1927, he subsequently pursued further studies in Paris under several renowned French painters. Upon his return to Lebanon in 1932, Farroukh took up teaching and dedicated himself to creating remarkable works of art, including landscapes, portraits, and still lifes, all of which genuinely encapsulated the essence of his surroundings. His significant impact and contributions to the foundation of a unique Lebanese Modern visual lexicon were acknowledged through prestigious accolades such as the first prize from the President of the Republic, the Lebanese Order of Merit, and the Order of the Cedar in 1955, marking achievements few have realised. He authored five books, and was considered a Modern theorist, holding many conferences for the Beiruti public.