Lot 33: Untitled

Nazir Nabaa (Syrian, b. 1938) Untitled signed and dated in Arabic, signed and dated 'Nazir Naba 1971' (lower left) oil, enamel and gold leaf on board 27.5 x 13 1/8in. (70 x 33.5cm.) Executed in 1971

70 x 33.5cm.

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner.

Dr. and Mrs. Akram Khatib have a strong relationship with Syrian artist Nazir Nabaa. The present two works (lots 33 and 34 in this sale) are great examples of two distinct periods in the Modernist's impressive body of work. The first is a whimsical work portraying a nymph princess living in an idyllic world, surrounded by beautiful flowers, delicious fruits and three white doves. The entire work has a pinkish tone, which adds to the fairy-tale-like quality of the work. In this work, the three doves represent love, peace and prosperity while the figure, as if floating or standing on a pedestal, represents a domesticated soul with a free and positive spirit. Moreover, Nabaa incorporates still life into his works as a metaphor of femininity. The pomegranate carries a symbolic meaning 'poor from the outside, yet rich from the inside, [the pomegranate is] exactly like a Damascene home.' (The artist quoted in an interview with Ammar Hassan Online).