Ahmed ben Driss el Yacoubi

Acquired directly from the artist

Thence by direct descent

The present lot is a masterful example of Ahmed Ben Driss El Yacoubi's practice. His proficiency with oils is emphasized through his enigmatic practice, effortlessly walking the line between abstraction and representation. Opting for Bacon-inspired pink, peach and red tones, Yacoubi’s understanding of oils is delicately shown in the tangible build-up of colour and geometric patterning by use of a palette knife. The thin lines of Yacoubi’s palette knife creates a deceptive depth in colour, foregrounded by burnt umber and deep yellow ochre tones.

Ahmed Ben Driss El Yacoubi draws on his own spiritual life experiences in his artistic practice. The artist’s oeuvre is highlighted by his use of enigmatic and abstract compositions. Yacoubi was fortunate enough to meet Francis Bacon in 1950s Tangier, after it was made an international zone and popular site for Western artists. Yacoubi is one of the only artists who Bacon chose to mentor in painting. Consequentially, Bacon adopted a genuine affection for Yacoubi and his art. It is during this time while teaching Yacoubi his technique of oil painting, that Bacon gave Yacoubi old canvases with his own discarded paintings to practice oil painting on the verso of the canvases. Back in London, Bacon organised an exhibition for Yacoubi at the Hanover Gallery in 1957 and his work was critically praised: “his drawings would have delighted the eye of Paul Klee”. Yacoubi’s work is still held by major establishments, such as MoMA in New York and Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah.