Kodak Agfa Presents : Hidden European Fine Arts of Egypt “Volume II : Sculptures”

And here is the second part of our a little Kodak Agfa’s tour in the “The Classical European art pieces in Egyptian Museums” exhibit.

Held in Cairo last November , the exhibit celebrated some of Egypt’s official collection of classical European art pieces in Egyptian Museums like Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum from paintings and sculptures.

The first part we saw the exhibit’s beautiful and rare paintings by some of the world’s most talented and famous painters in the West like Monet and Gauguin.

The gazelle and the girl 

This post we will see some of the sculptures featured in the exhibit.

There were less statues than then paintings in the exhibit , nevertheless it was very interesting collection.

The star of this collection I would say is French sculptor Auguste Rodin.

Yes, Rodin who is regarded to be the founder of modern sculpture in the West Egypt officially owns some of his work thanks to late Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil, his wife and their great taste.

We got here original miniature statues made by Rodin of his famous works with his signature on them.

Like for instance the one and only “The Thinker statue”

Auguste Rodin's The Thinker 

“Le Penseur” or “The Thinker” is probably most famous artwork for Auguste Rodin. The full-size statue was originally a part of “The Gates of Hell” artwork in 1880 under the name “The poet” .

“The Gates of Hell” was based on Dante's Divine Comedy.

Auguste Rodin's The Thinker

But the statue we know as a naked man thinking alone appeared for the first time in 1880 and it was huge success.

It is from Al Gezira Center for Modern Arts collection and currently on display there.

Auguste Rodin's The Thinker

It has Rodin’s signature on it so I assume it was casted under his supervision during his lifetime.

There is also Eve standing alone in bronze.

 

Auguste Rodin's Eve 

Just like The Thinker , Eve was conceived in “The Gates of Hell” {This phrase is a bit dramatic} by Rodin in 1881 and it was first exhibited in 1891.

It is from Al Gezira Center for Modern Arts collection and is currently on display there.

The third Rodin’s miniature statue in this collection was the famous “The defense” or “Call to arms”.

Auguste Rodin's Call to arms

A bronze reproduction of Rodin’s famous statue “Le Defense” made in 1879, it has got Rodin signature on it.

The original statue was made by Rodin as an entry in some official competition held by the French government for a monument to commemorate the siege of Paris in 1870.

It is also from Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Collection and is on display at his museum.

There is also “Peillon” bust  by Rodin.

Auguste Rodin's Peillon

Made by Rodin from green and brown bronze while its base is from marble.

Unlike the other two artworks , the Greek mythology influenced artwork is from Al Gezira Center for Modern Arts’ collection.

Rodin’s works in Egypt are officially recognized by Musee Rodin in France and Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum is officially among the museums around the globe owning the artworks of the famous French sculptor.

There were other sculptures in the exhibits for famous sculptors too.

Here is “Reve de gloire” or “a Dream of fame”

Cyprian Godebski's Reve de gloire

A bronze sculpture made from bronze by Polish sculptor Cyprian Godebski.

It is from Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil’s collection and it is currently in his museum. 

“The girl and fawn” or “The girl and Gazelle” by French sculptor Henri Bouchard (1875-1960)

Henri Bouchard's The girl and Gazelle 

A bronze reproduction for Bouchard’s 1910  “Young girl and Gazelle” which is currently in New York’s Met.

Henri Bouchard's The girl and Gazelle 

As you can see there are major differences between the two artworks as the girl in the original work was completely naked while in that version we have in Egypt , she is wearing clothes. Also , the gazelle and its horns.

This was one of the pieces that caught my attention for its beauty and simplicity. It is from Al Gezira Center for Modern Arts collection in Cairo.

This beautiful piece of art by French sculptor Ernest Dubois (1869-1930).

Ernest Dubois' Le Pardon 

This is one of his famous artworks and it is called “Le Pardon” or “The return of the Prodigal son". It is based upon the famous story of the prodigal son in the Bible.

Ernest Dubois' Le Pardon 

It has Dubois’ signature and I think it was commissioned for Belgian “La Societe Solvay et Cie” for Mr Louis something. 

Ernest Dubois' Le Pardon 

I could not identify the letters. La Soceite Solvay et Cie is now international Chemical company Solvay S.A

And we also got this statue by Louis Jules Dideron “1901-1980”

Dideron's The Woman bather 

This black bronze statue is called “The woman bather”.

It is from Al Gezira Center for Modern Arts’ collection and it is on display at that center.

This marble bust was made by 19th-century French sculptor Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (1827-1875)

 Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux's La Danse 

From what I understand this  an original copy of statue's part from the 1868 famous sculpture collection made by Carpeaux called “La Danse” or “Dance” at the façade of Opera Garnier in Paris.

It is from Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil collection and it is currently in his museum.

If I am not mistaken there are two identical statues in the exhibit and I got the info of one them.

Meet the “Nude Woman sitting” by French Aimé-Jules Dalou (1838-1902).

Nude Woman siting by Dalou 

It is amazing marble “I guess” statue. It is from Al Gezira Center for Modern Arts’ collection and it is on display at that center.

Now while browsing the photos I found its twin sister in bronze in the exhibit.

Nude Woman siting in bronze by Dalou 

Dalou has another “Nude woman” bronze statue but it is in different posture yet I believe it was for the same model. That Nude woman is in New York’s MET.

To Dr Wally , the cheerful bust which was made by Swedish sculptor Boris Frödman-Cluzel (1878-1969) who lived and worked most of his life in Cairo since 1929 till his death. 

Dr Wally by Frödman-Cluzel

Frödman-Cluzel who was born to French-Swede parents and studied in Russia and France toured Europe as sculptor till he settled down in Cairo in year 1929 where he worked as a professor then a director of the sculpture department at the Faculty of Fine Arts.

He also founded the sculpture higher school of Cairo, where he taught during twelve years. He created and headed the Fine Arts Gallery in Cairo too. 

Dr Wally reminds of late Egyptian actor Anwar Ismail who was known for his roles in the 1980s films to the level I wonder if Frödman-Cluzel met Ismail !! 

The bronze bust is from Al Gezira Center for Modern Arts’ collection and it is on display at the center along another bigger collection by .

“The Woman Dancer” by French sculptor and painter Edgar Degas (1834-1917)

Degas’s favorite topic was the ballerinas and dancers especially in his world famous paintings. 

Degas' Woman Dancer 

This bronze naked dancer has sister dancers made by Degas in New York MET.

She is currently at Al Gezira Center for Modern Arts. 

At Al Gezira Center for Modern Arts in Zamalek also, there is a bronze full statue of the famous Venus De Milo.

The Venus De Milo bronze statue 

It is unclear who made that statue but its label says that it is a tribute to ancient Greek Sculptor Phidias despite historically the original Venus De Milo at France's Louvre Museum is attributed to ancient Greek sculptor Alexandros of Antioch.  

Unfortunately I dropped this  sculpture in the exhibit as I was overwhelmed with tons of paintings to keep up with.

I did not get the info of this strong hand palm unfortunately.

The Palm 

Yet I remember it was from Al Gezira Center for Modern Arts Collection too. 

You can see a video about the sculptures from the exhibit and yes , this is me speaking in Arabia and I hope it is annoying. 

There are English subtitles in the video so watch and please share it if you like it. 

All the photos and video were taken on iPhone 7 plus.