Omar Onsi (Lebanese, 1901-1969)

Born into a privileged family that appreciated art and culture, Omar Onsi learned art under the pioneer Lebanese artist Khalil Saleeby. Onsi was known to sketch the Beirut street scenes as he walked and developed a large body of works on paper depicting a rich identity of Beirut homes, people and landscapes at the turn of the 20th century. He was a very successful artist living from the proceeds of his art and was the main artist to be commissioned to represent the pivotal moments of Lebanon. He discovered the Levant and spent times with Bedouins and peasants, as well as religious and political figures, as he painted in Syria, Jordan and Palestine. He then pursued his studies in France and attended both the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and the Académie Colarossi. He is best known for his plein-air painting such as this marvelous work depicting peasants at the time of harvesting the Mediterranean sun-bathed oranges.