Seif Wanly , Egyptian 1906-1979 Untitled (Ballet Dancers) oil on paper, in two parts
Procedencia : Private Collection, EgyptThence by descent
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Notas : Seif Wanly and his brother Adham were highly influential artists in the Egyptian art scene. One of the foremost Egyptian artists of his time, Seif Wanly was the first to open a practicing studio in 1932. Whilst Adham was preoccupied with daily life and the nature that surrounded him (see lot 209 in this sale), often painting the sea-views which were a focal point for Alexandrians. Seif Wanly was arguably more inspired by the human figure. Although his work ranges in subject from the still life, to the landscape, to the figurative; a large proportion of Seif Wanly's work is devoted to the movement of the human body. Much like Edgar Degas (1834-1917), Seif was fascinated by ballet dancers and could often be found backstage at the European productions of famous ballets in Alexandria sketching the performers. Unlike Degas, who referred to himself as a realist, Seif preferred to convey movement and emotion through expressionism. In painting the human body in this style, Seif Wanly communicates an impression of the energy of the dance, and the whirl of the dancer's body through the air. The swift movements of his figures blur their features, and the sharp treatment of their hands and feet suggest a speed and dynamism that is evocative of the event.
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