I s s a m E l - S a i d

Head of Christ
Watercolour, pen,
ink & oil on paper
on board
25x16cm
Circa 1959
(SOLD)

This work was auctioned at
Bonhams.

The back of this painting
features the initials 'CCCC'
which stand for 'Corpus
Christi College Cambridge',
indicating that the painting
must have been done at
some time while Issam was
at Corpus, which was 1958-
1961. The painting depicts
a crucified Christ; not an
area of subject-matter that
he was known for being
interested in. However, his
father was killed during the
1958 revolution, and reportedly
crucified. Perhaps the painting
grew out of that trauma.

In addition to his work in graphics as featured in Geometric Art, Calligraphy,
Women & Culture, or indeed his works with Canvas Issam El Said
experimented with other media including the use of ink, watercolour, poster
paint, pencil and felt tips on paper, card or board as well as painting on stone
and casting in resin as featured below.

In the following group of raw and highly emotive 'Inks on paper' El-Said
paints demons, perhaps those which may have haunted his childhood.
He also expressed pain and suffering as depicted in his portrayal of the
Head of Christ. El-Said also used this media to depict lighter subjects
such as his Tropical Fish, nevertheless, just as mysterious.

Demon 1
Ink on paper
28x19cm
IS173

Demon 2
Ink on paper
36x25cm
IS174


Nude Female (detail) Ink on paper 42x20cm IS 172	Head of Christ 2 (detail) Mixed media on card 31x31cm IS 188


Mystical Moon Ink on paper 30x24cm IS 181	Fairytale Ink on paper 20x16.5cm IS 183


Three Women in a Cell Ink on paper 30x24cm IS 178	Tropical Fish Ink and mixed media on paper 21x41cm IS 175


Ballerina at the Graveyard Ink on paper 23x20cm IS 184	Praying Woman Felt tips and ink on paper 30x24cm IS 182


Self Portrait 2 Pencil on paper IS 168	Self Portrait 1 Pencil on paper IS 167

Bazaar
Ink on paper
23x35cm
IS 170

Munajat
Ink on paper
23x35cm
IS 171


*Nuri El-Said* (sketch for book cover) Watercolour and ink on paper 25x16cm IS 187	Zuqaq Iraqi Watercolour and ink on paper 21x14cm IS 179

Abstract Expressions
Felt on paper
13x18cm
1954
IS 180

Ya Hamam
(detail)
Water colour, poster
and ink on paper
43x33cm
1982
IS 197
(SOLD)

Woman in Balcony
Oil on wood
43x25cm
1969
IS 253
(SOLD)


Seven Nude Figures on a Stone* (one side) Ink on stone 6x10x5cm IS 300	Seven Nude Figures on a Stone* (second side) Ink on stone 6x10x5cm IS 300

Seated Oud Player*
Ink on stone
17x14x9cm
IS 301

Woman's Head
Resin
24x15x8cm
IS 302


Happy Christmas Felt and ink tip on card 28x27cm 1971 IS 185	Christmas in Baghdad Mixed media on card 14x11.5cm IS 186

The following are examples of various designs El-Said had printed in card form:


Three Kings Published as cards by the Bahrain Historical & Archaelogical Society 20x15cm	Mother and Child II Published as cards by the Bahrain Historical & Archaelogical Society 20x15cm


Women with Def (Tambourine) Published by the Bahrain Historical & Archaelogical Society 20x20cm	Woman with Mirror Published by the Bahrain Historical & Archaelogical Society 20x20cm

*The displayed text/artwork (or variations of it) is featured in the Issam El-Said: Artist and Scholar book. To purchase any of the artworks illustrated in this website (unless otherwise indicated) or to buy the book please contact us for further information.