Coastal Waves with Distant Buildings

George Sabbagh (جورج صباغ), born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1887 and active until his death in 1951, was a prominent Egyptian-French painter recognized for his contributions to early 20th-century modernism. Sabbagh studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he was influenced by the post-impressionist and modernist movements, and became associated with the École de Paris. His oeuvre spans oil paintings, landscapes, portraits, and scenes of everyday life, often characterized by a sensitive use of color and light. Sabbagh’s work reflects a synthesis of his Egyptian heritage and the avant-garde artistic currents of Paris, resulting in a unique and personal visual language.

Sabbagh exhibited widely in France, including at the Salon d’Automne and the Salon des Indépendants, and his paintings are held in several notable public collections, such as the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. His works have appeared at major international auctions, including sales at Christie’s and Sotheby’s, where they have attracted interest from collectors of modern Egyptian and Middle Eastern art. Sabbagh’s legacy endures as a bridge between Egyptian artistic traditions and European modernism, marking him as a significant figure in both contexts.