Lot 46: * Alfred Basbous (Lebanon, 1924-2006) The Human Family 41 x 24 x 20 cm

Alfred Basbous (Lebanon, 1924-2006)
The Human Family plaster sculptureexecuted circa41 x 24 x 20 cm

Provenance:Property from the a private collection, BeirutAcquired directly from the Alfred Basbous Foundation"The sons of Adam are limbs of each other, Having been created of one essence. When the calamity of time affects one limb The other limbs cannot remain at rest" – SaadiTHE HUMAN FAMILYAlred Basbous striking quadrangular figure of an allegorical family is a powerfully symbolic sculpture exhibiting all the hallmarks of the renowned Lebanese artists virtuoso flair. Depicting a soldier, a labourer, a child and a mother with hands proudly and tenderly interlocked, Basbous presents us with a symbolic depiction of the family of mankind, and the complementary qualities each character contributes to the general wellbeing and unity of societyAlfred Basbous was born in Rachana, Lebanon in 1924. His first exhibition in Beirut, at the Alecco Saab gallery in 1958, marked the beginning of his long and successful career as a sculptor. Basbous's works express a lifelong exploration of the human form and its abstract properties. Focused on the aesthetic principles of shape, movement, line and material, his sculptures display a deeply ingrained sincerity and a search for the essence of beauty. Working in the tradition of sculptors such as Auguste Rodin, Jean Arp and Henry Moore, Alfred Basbous explores the potential of noble materials such as bronze, wood and marble to express the sensuality and purity of the human form. This aversion towards frivolous and meaningless embellishments echoes his own philosophy of simplicity and earnestness.