Nejib Belkhodja

Private Collection, Tunisia (acquired directly from the artist in 1984)

Tunis, Maison Des Arts, Nejib Belkhodja: Preparatory Gouache Study, June - July 2003

This work is in very good condition with a slight sign of wear to all four extreme corner tips of the composition. The colours in the catalogue illustration are accurate, with the overall tonality being brighter and more vibrant in the original.
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Born in 1933, Belkhodja was the son of a Dutch opera singer and a Tunisian aristocrat of Turkish descent. The family lived in the medina of Tunis–a walled city within a city that was home to the rich and influential and often seen as the heartbeat of most North African cities. Even in the face of their multi-cultural backgrounds, Belkhodja’s parents took his Tunisian upbringing very serisously. After his father’s death, Belkhodja’s mother chose to remain in the medina and even converted to Islam herself. Belkhodja studied at the School of Fine Arts in Tunis and continued to live there until the 1960s.  With this upbringing, it is no surprise that the imagery of the medina became integral to Belkhodja’s artwork throughout his life.  

Long after his childhood, Belkhodja was producing artwork centering on the medina. The present work, executed circa 1982, is a prime example of this. He presents an idealized, even nostalgic view of the locale, using colors that are bright and engaging without being overwhelming. The buildings stand in neatly organized rows, their silhouettes overlapping with each other to create a distinct feeling of depth. The multiple rows of buildings and sheer size of the canvas itself speak to the breadth and importance of the medina in Arabic culture. The lack of figuration combined with the colorful and dynamic silhouettes of the medina leave the viewer to imagine the bustling and vibrant life within. 

The allure of Belkhodja’s work led him to achieve significant success within his own lifetime. He participated in his first exhibition in 1956 at the age of 23, and was awarded the Tunis Municipal prize for the work he displayed. He then began traveling, and took part in three consecutive biennials in Paris in 1965, 1967, and 1969. During this time he also traveled to Milan and Egypt, earning prizes for his work there as well. By the end of his life, he had exhibited in Tunisia, the United Kingdom, France, Egypt, Germany and the United States, gaining distinction as a North African artist. Eventually, his idealized cityscapes were given life through collaboration with the architect Slah Smaoui. Together, the duo constructed the artist village of Ken–roughly translated in English as “Once Upon a Time,” this again hints at his romanticized and idealistic view of medina life. Ultimately, Belkhodja was able to achieve success by creating a universally appealing body of work, while still maintaining his integrity as a North African artist.