Omar El-Nagdi (Egyptian, b. 1931)

Although Omar El-Nagdi's works have been exhibited alongside those of Western masters such as Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, they also establish him as one of the most forefront and diverse contemporary Egyptian artists, enigmatic and intriguing in his own right. Le Musicien Bleu is an exceptional, early masterpiece by El-Nagdi, dated 1961, showcasing the Egyptian artist's mastery of colour, complex compositions and poetry. Awash in the cool blue that Egyptians have traditionally used for thousands of years in artworks, architecture, jewelry and seals, El-Nagdi blends his country's aesthetic with twentieth century artistic trends such as Expressionism, Cubism and Orphism, revealing his formal art education throughout Europe. The subjects appear lively and festive, yet mysterious and anonymous and El-Nagdi's treatment of light and depth in this composition serve to enhance its enigmatic character. Le Musicien Bleu was executed during an extremely successful time in El-Nagdi's career, the same year his works were showcased in a group show in Italy with international artists such as Picasso and Dalí and preceding a string of solo exhibitions in Europe and Egypt.