A catalogue raisonné of the entire oeuvre of Mahmoud Said, considered as the founder of modern Egyptian painting. Mahmoud Said (1897–1964), one of the catalysts of Modern Arab Art, was born into the aristocratic circle of Alexandria, being the son of former Egyptian Prime Minister Mohamed Said Pacha, and later becoming the uncle of the future Queen Farida of Egypt. Said forged his own unique style, deeply rooted in the true Egyptian character and daily life he observed around him, fused with his Western artistic training. Said’s intrinsically Egyptian style emerged in conjunction with the rise of nationalism in Egypt and undeniably paved the way for the search for a national identity through art, giving birth to Modern Egyptian Art.
Valérie Didier Hess, sales manager at Christie’s Dubai office, was actively involved in projects with major international institutions such as the Louvre in Paris, the Center for Research and Restoration of the Museums in France, and the Princely Collections of the Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna (Austria). Dr. Hussam Rashwan is the owner of one of the world’s foremost and outstanding collections of Modern Egyptian Art. Through his collection and his extensive and unique personal library, Dr. Rashwan has become a respected academic reference in the art world for his expertise on Modern Egyptian Art.
