Lot 31 – Mahmoud Afifi, From the New Valley

Born in Alexandria, Mahmoud Afifi was a cornerstone of Egyptian modernism whose career spanned continents and styles. After graduating from the Faculty of Arts in 1940, he refined his craft in Italy, earning a diploma in Painting from Rome in 1955. However, his philosophical foundation was laid much earlier under the mentorship of Hamed Said. In 1946, Afifi joined Said’s influential Art Assembly, a collective dedicated to stripping away artifice to reconnect with nature and primal origins.

Afifi is perhaps best known for his “Hard Edge” aesthetic, a technique defined by heavy, unwavering black outlines that give his figures a monumental presence. This style bore such a striking resemblance to the stained-glass aesthetic of French master Georges Rouault that Afifi became affectionately known as the “Egyptian Rouault.” His work often creates the illusion of leaded glass, where expressive shapes are held together by a sense of rhythmic grace and technical proficiency.

Beyond the canvas, Afifi was a vital cultural administrator. He spent twenty years at the Al Ghoury Agency, eventually rising to become the Director of the Handcrafts Division. Following the death of sculptor Abdel Hamid Hamdy, he also took over leadership of the Society of Al Ghoury Artists, ensuring the continuation of the founder’s vision.

Afifi’s subject matter acted as a mirror to the Egyptian soul, capturing everything from the intimacy of family life as evidenced in the present work, as well as romance and the high drama of the nation’s history. He was particularly moved by political upheaval, entering a phase where he used his canvas to symbolise the spirit of the Egyptian alliance. His depictions of historical conflicts, such as the battles of Saladin and Rashid, transformed military history into powerful visual symbolism. Later, inspired by his participation in the 1960s Spain Biennale, he transitioned into a fascination with sports, proving that his bold, structured style was as capable of capturing athletic motion as it was historical gravity.