Painter
Hussein Bicar
Bicar was born in 1913 in Alexandria, he’s one of Egypt’s most distinguished 20th century artists.
He started playing the lute at the age of eight, and by nine, he was in demand as a music teacher for society ladies who couldn’t employ adult male teachers due to cultural limitations. Bicar spent over 60 years of his life educating painting at schools and universities following graduating from Cairo’s School of Fine Arts in 1934.In his senior year, he had the privilege of studying with Ahmad Sabri, Egypt’s best portraitist, who became his mentor and lifelong friend.
He was selected to be a member of a group of professors who journeyed to Morocco to teach at the invitation of the Moroccan government in 1939. After returning to Egypt in 1943, he was recruited as an assistant to his former professor, Ahmed Sabri. Bicar remained for the next 17 years, ultimately becoming chair of the painting department, where he mentored many contemporary Egyptian artists.
his willingness to draw on his Egyptian heritage was remarkable. Bicar was the first Egyptian artist to illustrate Arabic children’s books, while also being instrumental in creating and expanding this profession. Beyond drawing, Bicar’s contribution includes art criticism and narrative poetry.
Bicar’s work as a painter is distinguished by clean, simple lines that convey strength and spirituality. His flexibility shines through as he works in a wide range of media, including watercolor, oils, and tempera – the result is a distinct Bicar style. Despite classical Greek or Roman art, which is mainly physical in nature, the essence of Egyptian art is intellectual.
The styled figures in his paintings convey a poetic message about the stability, mobility, and strength inherent in Egypt’s agrarian traditions.In their austere backgrounds, his characters’ stark, minimalistic lines frequently impose a sculptured look. This philosophical bent toward depicting persons’ spirituality may also be seen in Bicar’s portraiture.
After more than 50 years as an artist and critic, he maintained eclectic in his tastes, was tolerant of change, and was keen to comprehend all art schools as they reflected global circumstances. “To understand is to appreciate” Bicar explained, exquisite in his simplicity.
