Artwork
Autoportrait
Autoportrait is a watercolor painting by Moustafa Farroukh. It dates from 1939 and is held in the collection of the Sursock Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1939, this watercolor self‑portrait presents the Lebanese artist Moustafa Farroukh gazing to his right. The composition centers on his face, rendered with short dark hair and a calm expression, conveying a quiet, introspective atmosphere. The work belongs to the permanent collection of the Sursock Museum in Beirut.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait offers a direct visual record of Farroukh himself, emphasizing the artist’s personal presence rather than narrative content. By focusing on the sitter’s face and a subdued gaze, the painting invites contemplation of the creator’s inner life and artistic identity during a period of significant cultural development in Lebanon.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor, the piece employs delicate washes and subtle tonal shifts that model the facial features with softness. The medium’s translucency allows for gentle gradations, producing a nuanced sense of depth while maintaining a light, almost ethereal quality typical of Farroukh’s approach to portraiture.
History & Provenance
Moustafa Farroukh, a prolific figure of 20th‑century Lebanese art, produced over two thousand works and authored several books, including an autobiography. This self‑portrait entered the Sursock Museum’s holdings, where it remains accessible to the public as part of the institution’s representation of modern Lebanese painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Moustafa Farroukh (Arabic: مصطفى فروخ; 1901 – 1957) was one of Lebanon's most prominent painters of the 20th century.
