Safwan Dahoul (Syrian, b. 1961)

Safwan Dahoul's recent works reveal disinclination towards colours, but his earlier works, of which the present work is a very subtle example, are painted with soft pastels and smooth curves. Dahoul portrays a young couple in love, embracing each other. Although the male figure is depicted with closed eyes as if in a meditative state, the female figure gazes at the viewer in a captivating, yet melancholic, manner. Beyond the feeling of affection and intimacy that is revealed through the composition, the female figure appears lonely and confined within the narrow wooden space.

The roughness of the wooden door, on which Safwan Dahoul has applied his delicate brushstrokes, contrasts with the lyrical and graceful scene that is depicted. Doors as well as windows and walls are key characteristics of Dahoul's oeuvre; in the present work, the rustic condition of the door as well as the elegant allure of the female figure both metaphorically suggest the unfortunate deterioration of the Damascene cityscape.