Aly Ben Salem (Tunis 1910- Stockholm 2001)

Dreamlike Eden Gouache, watercolor, pencil, charcoal and silver powder highlights 55x75cm Signed upper left After his secondary studies at the Lycée Carnot in Tunis, Aly Ben Salem entered the Ecole des Beaux-arts. A student of Armand Vergeaud, he distinguished himself at the beginning by his attachment to the traditions of his country, which he reproduced in the majority of his paintings. His works are similar to miniatures in the meticulous rendering of characters and objects. His first personal exhibition held at the Rotonde du Colisée in Tunis dates from 1934. In 1936, he obtained two first prizes and in 1937, he decorated the Tunisian Pavilion at the International Exhibition in Paris. His stay in the French capital was an opportunity to discover different schools of painting. He exhibited at the Union Latine gallery, quai des Grands Augustins. In 1939, he exhibited in Stockholm. During the war, he taught in Sfax and then divided his time between Tunisia and Sweden where he had numerous exhibitions.