Lot 15, Shafic Abboud - Morning Gestures No 4 (Gestes du matin no 4)* - Blurring the Lines, Waves of Figuration and Abstraction in Paintings from the MENA - Auctions

Morning Gestures No 4 (Gestes du matin no 4)*

Description

Executed in: 2000

Medium: Oil on canvas

Size: 78.5 x 78.5 cm (unframed)

Signed on the front lower right "Abboud". Signed, dated and titled on the reverse "ABBOUD 2000, Gestes du matin No 4, 80 x 80".

Provenance

Private Collection, Lebanon. Acquired directly from the artist.

Location

Beirut, Lebanon

Estimate €40,000 - €60,000

Description

Born in 1926, Shafic Abboud would grow up to become one of the most renowned and collected Lebanese abstract artists. After graduating from the Lebanese Academy of Fine Art in 1947, he moved to Paris to be trained under a handful of great French artists namely Fernand Leger, to later enroll at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris in 1952. 

Throughout Abboud’s painting career one can observe two main directions: at the start of his career he had painted in the figurative style, drawing inspiration from Lebanese folklore and daily life. He then moved on to Abstract Expressionism, a movement that took off in the 1950s, although unlike mainstream Abstract Expressionists, he did not totally abandon the structured composition. He did however experiment with the use of vibrant and muted colors together, and a dynamism in his process that remains apparent in his works. 

Abboud has been exhibited in countless exhibitions worldwide, the latest being a retrospective at the Institut Du Monde Arabe in Paris. He has also won a list of prizes, and his works have been acquired by prestigious institutions such as the Tate Modern, Qatar’s Mathaf (Museum of Arab Art), the Centre Pompidou in Paris, etc. 

In this work, to the left of the canvas, one can observe a Rothko-esque style, with broad smears of different tones of the same color. The slow meditative flatness on that side of the canvas is interrupted by a trunk of quick strokes of blues, greens and browns with reflections of red and orange as if to mirror what is on either side of the trunk. On the right side, there is a translucent iridescent white layer with windows of different dimensions embedded into it. This wonderful work by Abboud showcases exactly how he stood between Color Field Expressionism and Action Painting Expressionism, a note of vague, deconstructed figuration still being present in his work. 


Exhibitions

Exhibited in "Pieces for a Museum Featuring: Paul Guiragossian and Shafic Abboud" exhibition, Loft 46, Beirut, 7th-22nd April 2010.

Literature:

Published in the catalogue of the exhibition "Pieces for a Museum Featuring: Paul Guiragossian and Shafic Abboud", page 19, Beirut, 2010.

Conditions of sales

The works of art which are subject to artist resale royalty rights ('droit de suite') are marked with an * in the description of the work of art. The amount of the royalties is calculated using a sliding scale of percentages of the Hammer Price.

Lots featured on Ans Azura’s platform may be subject to export regulations in the country where they are located and import regulations in the country where they will be shipped to. The location of each Lot is marked in its description.You are responsible for ensuring that you understand and comply with all relevant laws or regulations applicable in relation to the export or import of any Lot that you intend to purchase.

By registering to bid in auctions and by bidding on the Ans Azura platform you agree to the Bidder’s and Buyer’s Terms and Conditions which you may consult here. Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully. By bidding you accept personal liability to pay the Purchase Price consisting of the Hammer Price and the Buyer’s Premium plus the applicable Buyer's Expenses. Please note that the Total Cost Calculator will display the amount including the estimated Buyer’s Premium, exclusive of related artist resale royalties and any shipping expenses and all duties, taxes, VAT, and/or custom processing fees payable by the Buyer.

More art from

Shafic Abboud

Price realised €19,520

LOGIN TO ANS AZURA

×
×

Join Our Newsletter

Get notified of upcoming auctions and works of interest.

×

In order to place bids you have to fill in your Account Information with the mandatory Auction Settings.
Go to Auction Settings

Your bid was successfully received.