Lot 34: Untitled

Nazir Nabaa (Syrian, b. 1938) Untitled signed in Arabic (lower right), dated '-1969-' (lower left) oil and sand on board 12 x 16 3/8in. (30.5 x 41.5cm.) Executed in 1969

30.5 x 41.5cm.

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner.

he second work by Nazir Nabaa depicts a female face with prominent eyes and alludes to the eyes as a window to the soul. In his painting with earthy tones and a rich texture, Nabaa treats the face like a sculpture. The eyes are in fact reminiscent of old Assyrian statuary, which elicits a sense of fear - as a metaphor for the society's concerns at the time. Nazir Nabaa is considered one of the first Syrian artists to explore ideas of Modernism in the 1960s and 1970s, alongside fellow artist Fateh Moudarres. Now living and working in Damascus, Nazir Nabaa has had numerous exhibitions in the region and abroad.