Lot 51, Omar Onsi - Portrait de famille Onsi - Against All Odds: Times of Uncertainty in Middle Eastern Art - Auctions

Portrait de famille Onsi

Description

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 67.5 x 57.5 cm

Signed on the front lower left "O Onsi"

Provenance

Private collection, Lebanon

This artwork is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity

Location

Lebanon

Estimate €5,500 - €8,000

Description

Portrait de famille Onsi - or "Onsi Family Portrait" - depicts a young woman immersed in painting, hinting at a connection to the artistic and cultural legacy of the Onsi family. While her exact relationship to the artist remains unclear, the shared surname suggests a familial bond. This work exemplifies Onsi's interest in portraying the nuances of daily life at the turn of the twentieth century, reflecting the burgeoning cultural and social landscape of his era. The composition not only showcases the artist's skillful rendering of the figure but also evokes a sense of intimacy and closeness with the subjects he frequently captured in his portraits.

Omar Onsi (b. 1901 – d. 1969) remains a pivotal figure in Lebanese Modernism, profoundly documenting and shaping the region's cultural landscape. Born into a distinguished family in Tallet Khayat, Beirut, Onsi was immersed in a rich cultural environment that catalysed his significant role as an artist. He began under the mentorship of Khalil Saleeby, who scouted him after noticing his works at the Syrian Protestant College (now the American University of Beirut). His early works depicted the natural vistas and daily life of Lebanon’s diverse landscapes, inhabitants, and customs.

Onsi's explorations extended beyond Lebanon, capturing sights from Syria, Jordan, and Palestine with exceptional sensitivity. His commitment to his craft took him to Paris, where he honed his technique at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and the Académie Colarossi.

Onsi co-founded the Lebanese Association for Artists, Painters, and Sculptors and served as a board member of the Sursock Museum. His enduring legacy was commemorated in a 1997 retrospective at the Sursock Museum, underscoring his profound impact on Lebanon's artistic history.


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