20 - EL HUSSEIN FAWZI (EGYPTIAN 1905-1996)

EL HUSSEIN FAWZI (EGYPTIAN 1905-1996) STILL LIFE signed El Hussein Fawzi in Arabic lower left oil on board 84.5 x 58cm (104 x 78cm framed) Property from a Private Collection, London Provenance Dr Mohammed Said Farsi Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2013 Literature Dr. Sobhy Al Sharouny, A Museum in a Book: Selections From Dr Mohammed Said Farsi's Art Collection, Cairo, 1998, no. 11/35, pp. 146, 148, illustrated El Hussein Fawzi was a central figure in the evolution of Egyptian modern art, celebrated as a pioneer of journalistic graphic arts and an academic leader. Born in the Helmia district of Cairo, he began his formal education in 1922 at the School of Fine Arts, where he initially focused on oil painting. His early talent earned him a prestigious fellowship to study in Paris, where he spent several years refining his craft. During this European period, he earned diplomas in lithography and decorative arts, and his skill was recognised internationally when he received an honorary degree at the French Salon in 1939. Upon returning to Egypt, Fawzi dedicated himself to both education and institutional development. He founded the Department of Graphic Arts at the Faculty of Fine Arts and served as its director for many years. His influence extended to the southern reaches of the country, where he supervised the fine arts studio in Luxor from 1954 to 1960. As a practitioner, Fawzi was remarkably versatile. While he was a master of classical oil painting, highlighted by his masterpiece El Dalalah, which is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful works in Egyptian art history. He was equally influential as an illustrator. He collaborated with the Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz, creating illustrations for his stories in the Al Ahram newspaper, and spent years documenting Egypt's historic mosques through intricate watercolours and drawings. His international prestige was further cemented when he became one of only four Egyptian artists selected to have their designs engraved on crystal by the Steuben Glass factory in New York. Throughout his long career, Fawzi received numerous accolades, including the State Prize and the Order of Sciences and Arts in 1963, as well as the State Prize of Merit in 1989, leaving behind a legacy that bridged the gap between traditional fine art and the modern graphic press.