Watercolor and gouache on tracing paper
France, 1954
Fikret Saygi Mualla (1903-1967) – Turkish artist of the avant-garde
Signed and dated lower left ‘F. Mualla-54’
The authenticity of this work has been confirmed to the former owner by Mr. A. Suleyman Ustunel
Sheet size: 26.9 x 20.6 cm
Good condition
Provenance: acquired at Mes Chassaing-Rivet et Fournié, Paris, 29 November 2001, lot 362 by the previous owner
Expressive head in lively colors; the auction record for a drawing by Mualla from the same year is set at €63,000

In addition to his bustling Paris street scenes, Fikret Saygi Mualla also created a number of portraits of its kind in the 1950s and 60s, often abstracting or distorting the facial features. Here it is the bluish flesh tones that endow the head a powerful presence. Color was always the focal point in Mualla’s work. Inspired by the Expressionists and Fauves, especially Matisse, he created works of vibrant colorfulness. The present work may be a self-portrait of the artist.



The drawing is signed and dated lower left ‘F. Mualla-54’. It is in good condition and permanently mounted under a mat. The sheet is a little wavy and slightly toned with a few stains on the reverse. With remains from a previous mounting in the corners. On the forehead a little thinning and a tiny hole (backed), lower left above the signature on a fine tear (approx. 0.5 cm). On the right margin a closed tear (approx. 1.5 cm). The frame shows minor signs of wear. The sheet measures 26.9 x 20.6 cm. The overall dimensions including the frame are 45.5 x 39.5 cm.



Fikret Saygi Mualla (1903-1967)

Fikret Saygi Mualla was born in Istanbul. He studied at the Academy of Arts in Berlin. Back in Istanbul, he worked as an illustrator and created drawings and views of his hometown. At the request of Abidin Dino, Mualla created several oil paintings for the Turkish Pavilion at the New York World's Fair in 1939. In the same year he settled in Paris, where he was an active throughout his life. Here he studied under Othon Friesz at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, where he met Picasso among others. Devoting himself entirely to painting, Mualla worked primarily in gouache. In his works, he portrayed the life on the streets of Paris. His subject matter included musicians, bar-goers, prostitutes and circus people. Today Mualla is one of the most important Turkish artists of the 20th century. (tfa)

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