ISLAMIC, INDIAN ART & JEWELS
Lot 231:
Description
This vibrant, dynamic oil painting exemplifies the distinctive modernist style of Hafidh al-Droubi, one of Iraq’s most influential 20th-century artists and a pioneer of Baghdad’s modern art movement. Rendered in a faceted, prismatic composition reminiscent of Cubism and Futurist fragmentation, the work uses bold geometric planes and radiant color fields to create a sense of rhythmic energy and architectural uplift.
At the center, abstracted vertical structures rise upward, possibly referencing urban development, radio towers, oil rigs, or symbols of industrial progress — themes Al-Droubi explored within Baghdad’s rapidly modernizing landscape. Radiating beams of yellow, orange, and soft pastel tones evoke sunlight, adding dramatic luminosity to the composition.
The reverse of the canvas includes expressive strokes of black and yellow pigment, painter’s notes, markings, and Arabic inscriptions, offering insight into the artist’s process.
Provenance: Private UK collection
A certificate of authenticity from the artist family will be given to the winning bidder
Artist Background
Hafidh al-Droubi (1914–1991) was a pivotal figure in Iraqi modernism, known for introducing European Cubist and Impressionist techniques to Baghdad after his studies in Rome and London. A founder of the influential Al-Ruwad (The Pioneers) art group and later dean of the Academy of Fine Arts in Baghdad, he shaped generations of Iraqi artists. His work often merges Western modernist vocabulary with themes rooted in Iraqi daily life, architecture, and social transformation.
92 x 69cm
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