SHAKIR HASSAN AL-SAID (IRAQI, 1925-2004)
Two red Cockerels
signed and dated in Arabic SHAKIR/53 (lower left)
oil on paper laid on panel
33 x 62 cm (13 x 24 ½ in)

The present composition Two red Cockerels reflects the importance of the innovative works from Al Said during the late 1940s up until 1954 when he left for Paris. His works from this important period are characterised by a palette inspired by the tribal colours used in Iraqi ancient carpets. The organic, loose geometric lines suggest a more primitive period drawing on ancient iconography from quasi-Sufi imagery.

The Baghdad Group of Modern Art, alongside the Art and Liberty Movement in Egypt, was one of the few to have published a manifesto expressing their vision and concerns: ‘At a time when Western Civilisation is using the most modern approach to express artistically its aspirations for freedom, our people do not realise the importance of painting as a stand of judgement when a country is in the process of awakening to real freedom. [...] The convention that the creative idea is separate from the style is a relic of early 19th century Romanticism, and we feel under no obligation to adhere to it if it damages the coherency of the work of art. On the other hand, our efforts will be in vain unless they show evidence of innovation and creativity. What we are exhibiting today, is an example of many different trends of modern art – impressionist, expressionist, surrealist, cubist, and abstract art – and it is the first kind to take place here since the Second World War. It is striving to define a creative identity for our country. [...] We, standing at the crossroads, have to decide what are the elements of our civilisation which we should integrate in our current work. In other words, we have to combine our experience of Western art with our ‘genius loci