Omar El-Nagdi (Egypt, 1931-2019)
Golden Horses
mixed media on canvas, framed
signed 'Omar El Nagdi ' and dated '1990.11.28' (lower right), executed in 1990
188 x 191.5cm (74 x 75 3/8in).
Footnotes:
Provenance:
Property from the private collection of H.E Ambassador Francine Henrich

Exhibited:
Institut Du Monde Arab, Omar El-Nagdi Retrospective, Paris, 1995


Bonhams is delighted to feature these two exceptional creations by Omar El-Nagdi, originating from the esteemed collection of H.E. Francine Henrich, who formerly served as an ambassador to the European Community.


These captivating works serve as a platform for rich cross-cultural exchanges between the Arab and Western realms. El-Nagdi's artistic language is deeply rooted in the political landscape of his homeland and the daily lives of Cairo's inhabitants. He achieves this profuse imagery by blending poetry with elements drawn from 20th-century artistic movements, such as Expressionism, Cubism, and Fauvism. The artist himself acknowledged the influence of Paul Cézanne in his compositions, Paul Gauguin in his colour palette, and Vincent Van Gogh in the emotional intensity emanating from his works. Simultaneously, El-Nagdi preserves the tradition of Egyptian mural paintings in his artworks while exploring the jewel-like effect found in monumental mosaics, a technique he extensively studied in Ravenna, Italy, during the 1960s.

Inspired by the diverse cultures that he encountered in rural Egypt, Omar EL Nagdi fused in these works the Pharaonic and Islamic iconography with Cairo's urban culture idioms and Western aesthetics. Golden Horses and Le Grand Cavalier are visually enigmatic, captivating and inspired by folk art and traditions that are reflections on everyday life in Egypt. These paintings are sufficient proof of his exceptional gifts for symbolic design and the splendid use of colour, notably gold. Through his expressive textures, colours and symbolic elements, his works offer a communication that is deeply felt. The abundant array of shapes intermingled with vibrant, glowing colors and shimmering gold leaf throughout the entire canvas creates an overall impression of lavishness and exceptional artistry.
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