Zohra Efflatoun

"Contemplating" Oil Painting 27" x 19" inch by Zohra Efflatoun

circa 1970

Zohra Efflatoun came from an artistic family. Her half-sister Inji was a renowned painter from Cairo. Whereas Zohra, who lived in Alexandria, studied under the patronage of the Alexandrian pioneer painters Adham and Seif Wanly. She was an active participant in the local art scene and showed it several times at the Biennale of Alexandria. An interesting aspect of her work is its recording of the history of Alexandria by portraying a) famous streets/areas with their architecture, people, and spirit without forgetting details like the street’s name and number and b) typical Egyptian personages like "Aam Hassan" with his tarboosh, the "Goza Man" with his delirious eye, and "The Water Department" personal with his drooping eyes and government badge and c) the. A world traveler, she was also able to depict the spirit and lifestyle of different places around the world as Paris, San Francisco, Istanbul, and Austria. Her subject matters here range from portraits and social commentary to urban landscapes. Not merely picturesque scenes but often subjects like factories, infrastructures, residential routes, and cemeteries. Her style demonstrates quick brushwork and skillful use of color, giving the viewer a sense of serenity and cheerfulness.