Bonhams are proud to be offering a superlative work from one of the leading Lebanese 20th Century artists Saliba Douaihy. Born in northern Lebanon within the small town of Ehden, Douaihy was seen as having a talent for the arts from an early age, which led to him being heavily encouraged to develop his craft. Douaihy's work transformed throughout his life, from early works following classical landscape paintings seen in Lebanese church pieces, to later works such as 'Abstract Composition' following ideas and themes from American Abstract expressionism and Formalism. His body of work involves radical changes and refined artistic instinct.

'Abstract Composition' from the series 'Hard Edge' is a rich minimalist work. Only four colours are found in the composition, Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green. Each colour is applied to the canvas in precise lines as geometric shapes. A leaf green segment sits above all other colours, engulfing the work. It leads the viewers eye to the outer edges of the work. Two rich segments of red and a single yellow shape act as barriers to either side of the green plane. A precise blue segment darts through the left-hand side cutting the outer red away from the yellow. The application of the paint within the simplistic composition can allude to a lack of perspective in some works. Here it does the opposite. Douaihy uses colour theory and precise geometric shapes to create the feeling of depth and dimension.

Douaihy was awarded a grant from the Lebanese government to study abroad. He studied in New York and was introduced to the energetic and modern art scene. This was an integral part to his future themes and his 'Hard edge' series of abstract, minimalist paintings. Rothko and Hans Hoffman were important acquaintances as they were masters of colour theory, knowing how to extract depth from colour with very simplistic compositions. Douaihy became attuned to the ideas of formalism from his readings on Immanuel Kant. This inspired many parts of this work. These influences led to this dedication of hard-edged shapes depicted as flat surfaces. Douaihy's stance encapsulates the ideas and values that influenced all later pieces by him. The painting demonstrates his mastery of the minimalist aesthetic as well as the two fundamental aspects in formalist painting: colour and shape.

'Abstract Composition' is truly a compositional masterpiece. Douaihy emphasises the compositional elements along with the purest idea of colour theory that creates the spectacular depth within this work. The work epitomises why he is a true pioneer of Arab Modernism.

Douaihy participated in many exhibitions including the Salon Des Artistes Francais, Paris (1934); the New York fair; the Guggenheim Museum; the Salons des Realites Nouvelle, Paris; the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and University Art Gallery, New York.

Douaihy won many prizes and awards. They included the Lebanses National Ord of the cedar (1956), the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts Award (1968) and the Medaglia d'Oro of the Accademia d'Itlia dello Arte e del Lavoro (1980).