34. Landscape from Egypt (Aswan) [1932-1933]

Alongside his professor Jean Paul Laurens and colleagues from the academy in Paris, Leon Alexandru Biju embarked on journeys to Morocco and Algeria, trips that would greatly influence his canvas. An enthusiast of discovering the Oriental space, he also traveled to Egypt, where, fascinated by the richness of the natural setting, he stayed for four years. Here he discovered a rich nature, various human typologies, surprising architectural remnants and overflowing solar landscapes. He stops on the banks of the Nile, at Cairo, Aswan or Luxor and often turns his attention to the representation of feminine typologies. He was fascinated by the beauty of the Nile reflecting the clear sky, by the subjects wrapped in black veils, captured standing or sitting directly on the ground. He was interested in the contrasts between the dark costumes of the feminine characters and the predominantly white ones of his male models. Alongside the richness of nature and clothing details, Biju often incorporated architectural elements such as stone houses or the fascinating Egyptian pyramids into his works. The works produced in the aforementioned period were presented to the public in the exhibition “Biju. Egypt” the exhibition was organized in February 1934 at the Dalles Hall in Bucharest. Here the artist presented 146 paintings and 100 drawings and enjoyed the appreciation of critics and the public.

References

OCTAVIAN, Tudor, "Forgotten Romanian Painters", Noi Media Print Publishing House, Bucharest, 2003. BADEA-PĂUN, Gabriel, "Romanian Painters in France", Noi Media Print Publishing House, Bucharest, 2012.

Dimensions

width 33.5 cm, height 32.5 cm

Description

oil on cardboard, signed lower left, in black, "L.A. Biju"

Dating

1932-1933

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