Artwork
Autoportrait (6)
Autoportrait (6) is a graphite 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 pencil drawing is a self‑portrait by Lebanese artist Moustafa Farroukh. Executed in a realistic manner, the work presents the artist’s own likeness, rendered with careful attention to facial features and attire. It forms part of the permanent collection of the Sursock Museum in Beirut, illustrating Farroukh’s extensive output across the twentieth century.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing portrays a man with dark, curly hair, dressed in a collared shirt and tie, suggesting a formal, perhaps professional, self‑presentation. By choosing to depict himself, Farroukh engages in a personal exploration of identity, offering viewers a direct visual record of his appearance and demeanor at the time of its creation.
Technique & Style
Employing a range of graphite strokes, the artist builds texture and depth, especially in the facial area where fine hatching creates subtle tonal variations. The background remains unfilled, directing focus to the figure. The realistic approach, combined with the immediacy of pencil, conveys an intimate, unmediated sense of presence.
History & Provenance
Moustafa Farroukh, a prolific Lebanese painter who produced over two thousand works and authored several books, completed this self‑portrait during a productive phase of his career. The drawing entered the Sursock Museum’s collection, where it remains accessible to the public as part of the institution’s representation of Lebanese modern art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Moustafa Farroukh (Arabic: مصطفى فروخ; 1901 – 1957) was one of Lebanon's most prominent painters of the 20th century.
