Marsa Matrouh

A timeless image, Marsa Matrouh is an exceptional representation of the untouched Mediterranean coast of the 1950s, immortalised in the black and white films of the era, here brought to life in exquisite colour by Mahmoud Said. Mahmoud Said's glorious painting of Marsa Matrouh is yet another celebration of his native Egypt. His love for the Egyptian people is evident throughout his oeuvre, from the manner with which he paints scenes of local life and colour, the whirling dervishes, the Nile's people at work along her banks and the portraits he painted of his family and servants. But it is particularly apparent in his paintings of Alexandria, these more so than any other are infused with a remarkable affection. The peasant riding on a donkey, Said's ubiquitous Alexandrian women, their heads held high, their skin gleaming in the sunlight, the skyline of Alexandria more often than not framed in the background. All of these are a homage to his home-town, his people and his country.