Lot 26: ABDUL QADER AL RASSAM (IRAQI, 1882-1952) Untitled (River View) signed in Ar

ABDUL QADER AL RASSAM (IRAQI, 1882-1952) Untitled (River View) signed in Arabic (lower left) oil on canvas 28 x 37 3/8 in. (71 x 95cm.) Painted circa 1930s

PROVENANCE: Private Collection, Baghdad. Acquired from the above by present owner’s father in the 1940s and thence by descent. Although originally an Iraqi o icer stationed under the Ottoman Empire, Abdul Qader Al Rassam is considered the founding father of Modern Iraqi art. As the first generation of artists to introduce easel painting in Iraq at the turn of the century, his realist depictions of sweeping landscapes, immaculate portraits and skilled portrayals of everyday life in Iraq remain highly sought after by collectors. Studying military science and art in Istanbul where he was stationed, his artistic training which adhered strictly to the European academic style was intentionally required to produce paintings and drawings for military use. Having cultivated his skills by studying under a number of prominent painters in Istanbul who in themselves worked only in contemporary French styles, Al Rassam returned to Iraq following the end of World War I and brought along with him his artistic knowledge, expert skill and conscientious eye. Instigating a wave of following generations of artists through art appreciation by teaching painting lessons out of his studio, he later became an honorary member of the Society of the Friends of Art, a group that sought to cultivate public interest in art making and to enhance their own skill through interaction. Capturing a panoramic view of a historical site along the bountiful Tigris River, the present work shows Al Rassam’s dazzling and crisp skill in realistically capturing a vast, yet serene landscape. Known for his mastery of perspective and detail, the river delicately winds through the composition to implement an expert use of atmospheric perspective. The large and luscious tree in the foreground magically and phenomenally portrayed is delicately covered with a sumptuous golden glow that can either represent the dawn of a new day or the dusk of a beautiful day spent by the river. It is extremely rare to find works by Al Rassam at auction, due to his long standing status as one of the most important forefathers of a development of Iraq artistic practice that exceeded traditional folk crafts and Islamic motifs, the present work is truly a gem and a snippet of history.