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Lot Essay
Born in 1929 into a family of metalworkers, Egyptian artist Adam Henein revealed an early interest in sculpture as he modelled his first clay figure, that of Ramses II, at the age of eight, marking the beginning of his artistic journey. Graduating from the School of Fine Arts in Cairo in 1953, Adam Henein settled in the region of Luxor until 1956 where his work matured and was granted several prizes. A few years later, like many Egyptian artists of his generation, Henein spent time in Nubia until 1965 where he observed life on the banks of the River Nile.
Returning from Nubia and perhaps escaping the artistic constrains linked to the unstable political situation following the country's defeat in 1967 and the death of Nasser, Henein's career took a new turn as he moved to Munich and then Paris where he settled his residency, from there travelled around Europe, became familiar with classical Greek and Roman sculpture and broadened his art to an international level. In the French capital, Henein not only matured his style in sculpture, but also painted his abstract works on papyrus in the style of Poliakoff and his works gained great recognition, for the use of ancient Egyptian themes and traditional materials.
In the late 1990s, Henein returned to his homeland as an internationally established artist and was entitled to restore the Great Sphinx of Giza by the Ministry of Culture. Simultaneously, he founded and became the curator of the International Sculpture Symposium that provided international sculptors with the opportunity to carve the granite found in Egypt's ancient quarries.
The present bronze sculpture Le Repos is striking by its expressive and asymmetrical rendition. Executed in 1955, at a time when the artist travelled around the region of Luxor, the stylised figure is undeniably inspired by both Pharaonic art and European Modernism while reflecting the early sophistication of the artist. Depicting an Egyptian man resting, possibly a labourer or farmer, the work with its rough execution and sharp edges beautifully renders the figure in the traditional galabiya or long traditional robe worn by many Egyptians. The bulky forms of the figure and the coarse texture of the material used by the artist capture the slightest motion of light and are reminiscent of the archeological fragments that witnessed the rich Egyptian history.
Henein's charming sculpture is undeniably rooted in ancient Egypt and in the Pharaonic past as he retains in his art the minimalism of form and captures an evident mythic essence. Through its figurative style with simple lines and forms, the present sculpture is an exceptional early work by the artist that sheds light on the acclaimed career of the artist.
Returning from Nubia and perhaps escaping the artistic constrains linked to the unstable political situation following the country's defeat in 1967 and the death of Nasser, Henein's career took a new turn as he moved to Munich and then Paris where he settled his residency, from there travelled around Europe, became familiar with classical Greek and Roman sculpture and broadened his art to an international level. In the French capital, Henein not only matured his style in sculpture, but also painted his abstract works on papyrus in the style of Poliakoff and his works gained great recognition, for the use of ancient Egyptian themes and traditional materials.
In the late 1990s, Henein returned to his homeland as an internationally established artist and was entitled to restore the Great Sphinx of Giza by the Ministry of Culture. Simultaneously, he founded and became the curator of the International Sculpture Symposium that provided international sculptors with the opportunity to carve the granite found in Egypt's ancient quarries.
The present bronze sculpture Le Repos is striking by its expressive and asymmetrical rendition. Executed in 1955, at a time when the artist travelled around the region of Luxor, the stylised figure is undeniably inspired by both Pharaonic art and European Modernism while reflecting the early sophistication of the artist. Depicting an Egyptian man resting, possibly a labourer or farmer, the work with its rough execution and sharp edges beautifully renders the figure in the traditional galabiya or long traditional robe worn by many Egyptians. The bulky forms of the figure and the coarse texture of the material used by the artist capture the slightest motion of light and are reminiscent of the archeological fragments that witnessed the rich Egyptian history.
Henein's charming sculpture is undeniably rooted in ancient Egypt and in the Pharaonic past as he retains in his art the minimalism of form and captures an evident mythic essence. Through its figurative style with simple lines and forms, the present sculpture is an exceptional early work by the artist that sheds light on the acclaimed career of the artist.