CAPELLO BIANCO (WHITE HAT)
signed in Arabic and dated 03 upper right
oil on canvas
50 x 40cm; 19 3/4 x 15 3/4in
55.5 x 45.5cm; 20 3/4 x 18in (framed)

Property of a Private Collector, The Netherlands

Provenance
De Twee Pauwen, The Hague
Acquired from the above in 2004 by the present owner

Exhibited
The Hague, De Twee Pauwen Gallery, Afifa Aleiby, 2004

Born in Basra, Iraq, Aleiby studied at the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad whilst working as an illustrator. In 1974, the artist left Iraq for Moscow to further her studies in monumental art on a scholarship at the Surikov Institute. She remained there for six years, where her artistic endeavours were fostered by a community of Iraqi intellectuals. In the wake of political conflict, Aleiby was unable to return to her homeland and instead relocated to Italy where she was inspired by the Renaissance masters. The work of Sandro Botticelli, for example, has HAD a noticeable influence on Aleiby's practice. Her serene female figures, such as in Capello Bianco (White Hat), often resemble European court society portraiture or formal ecclesiastical iconography (notably the Madonna). Aleiby uses these female figures to reflect beauty, taste, politics and society and to emphasise the significance of women in society.

Aleiby lives and works in the Netherlands, and has participated in numerous exhibitions throughout her career, from Baghdad and Moscow to Yemen, Italy, Syria, Lebanon, England and the United States. Her paintings are held in important international public and private collections, such as Azman Museum’s collection, Farjam Foundation, Rana Sadik Collection, Beth Rudin de Woody Collection and Barjeel Foundation.