We are proud to be showcasing this incredible 1950's work by the critically acclaimed contemporary Syrian artist simply known as Marwan. Seen by his peers as a master in the portrayal of portraiture, 'Syriana' shows the early years of the artist's development of expressive landscapes. This work is a key building block to his later works.

'Syriana' was produced early in Marwan's career when he was only 23 years of age, whilst studying at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Berlin. From this, Marwan was increasingly influenced by German expressionism. Artists such as Max Pechstein come to mind when viewing 'Syriana'. With German culture and arts surrounding Marwan, we see how themes and expressionist ideas inserted themselves into 'Syriana'.

Max Pechstein (German, 1881 – 1955), 'Sunset over the Blue Bridge' (1922)

We see these compositional ideas of a flowing path moving from foreground to background, as it sweeps around an ominous structure sitting in the middle of the work. 'Syriana' starts hinting at the use of the golden ratio, which can be used as a key component within the composition of landscapes. It describes predictable patterns on everything from an atom to a sweeping landscape. We see how it was used in the construction of 'Syriana'. The abstracted blocks of moss and phthalo greens balanced with a rich ultramarine blue set this path for the viewer to follow. Each segment of colour expresses Marwan's love and interpretation of the land.

Max Pechstein (German, 1881 – 1955), 'Sunset over the Blue Bridge' (1922) Marwan Kassab-Bachi (Syria, 1934-2016), Syriana, (1957)

Marwan's work can be found in public collections worldwide, including the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main; Guggenheim Abu Dhabi; Darat al Funun, Amman; Staatliche Museen Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin; National Museum Damascus; Tate Modern, London; British Museum, London; The Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris; Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh; Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah; Museum of Con¬temporary Art in Chicago and Bar¬jeel Art Foundation Collection.