SEIF WANLY (EGYPT, 1906-1979) Self-Portrait in Kosovorotka oil on board
Provenance : Provenance: Property from a private collection, Cairo Gifted directly from the artist to Ambassador Ahmed Tewfik Khalil, a relative of artist’s wife Thence by descent to Mr Tareq Tewfik Khalil Acquired in 2012 by the present owner from the above Literature: Amr El Bilassy, Shell, Pioneers of Modern Egyptian Art, 13th edition, April-June 1996, illustrated on page 107 Proud, distinguished and sophisticated, this monumental, stately portrait of Seif Wanly is one of the artists largest, most finely executed artworks to come to auction. Depicting the artist in traditional Russian Kosovorotka tunic, the portrait pays homage to the artists Daghestani roots; confidently brandishing a paintbrush, and a book from the Hermitage Museum, the portrait is punctuated by a number of fascinating cultural and intellectual signifiers. Juxtaposed with the grandiose demeanor of the portrait are the plebeian symbols of the Russian rural labourer; the artist dons a kosovortka a distinctly working class garb, and stands in front of a traditional Russian samovar (tea dispenser). This confluence of high flown artistry with plebeian accoutrements is a reflection of the long-held belief in the bucolic virtues of simple agrarian life, perhaps best expressed by Marie Antoinette herself, who often dressed as a simple farm girl in the The Hameau de la Reine on the grounds of Versailles Generally associated with Russian peasants, the kosovorotka was worn by labourers and townsmen of various social categories into the early 20th century, when it was rapidly displaced as an everyday garment by more efficient and less elaborate clothing after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. The garment is also known as a tolstovka, or the Tolstoy-shirt, because the writer Leo Tolstoy customarily wore one in his later years Seif Wanly was was one of the seminal instigators of Egyptian Modernism after studying at the studio of the Italian Artist Otorino Becchi. He also studied at Hassan Kamel school (Social Fine Art Association in Alexandria) and attained the Honorary PhD in Art from the Fine Art Academy in Egypt Seif was a prolific artist who produced more than a thousand paintings, as well as numerous drawings and sketches. His early works are inspired by the use of the light and gentle strokes of his Italian professor, Ottorino Bicchi, who was close to the Italian Macchiaioli and the École de Barbizon. Later in his career, Seif used larger surfaces of bold colors and exercised greater freedom in his compositions, both of which brought him closer to Fauvism. Seif was fascinated by the performance arts and depicted scenes of circus, ballet, opera, music concerts, bull-fighting as well as all types of sports, including horse races. He represented the life of the performers on stage and backstage by expressing their vivid and dynamic movements. His fascination with performance arts also led him to design several sets for theater and opera productions in Egypt. He painted numerous views of traditional Nubian villages before they were flooded, as well as many landscapes of Egypt and all the countries he visited, including Spain, France, Italy, Yugoslavia, Poland and Russia. Seif is also the author of a series of self-portraits that reflect his sense of humor and derision. Following the death of his brother, Adham, which affected him profoundly, he introduced a darker palette of colors and shades in his paintings.
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