Abdul Qadir al-Rassam

Abstract

Abdul Qadir al-Rassam studied art and military science at Mühendishane-i Berrî-i Hümâyûn (Imperial School of Military Engineering) in Istanbul, during the last years of the Ottoman Empire. Working with oil in a realist style, al-Rassam is known for his landscapes, portraits, and scenes of everyday life. Upon becoming established in Iraq, al-Rassam held art classes in his studio and encouraged young artists to further their education by studying abroad. He was an honorary member of the Friends of Art Society. A collection of his work is held at the Museum of Pioneer Artists (Mathaf al-Fannaneen al-Ruwwad) located at the Abdul Rahman Al-Naqib House in Baghdad and the National Museum of Modern Art (Al Mathaf Al Watani lil Fann Al Hadith), both in Baghdad.

Biography

Abdul Qadir al-Rassam was part of the first generation of modern Iraqi painters. He stands at the core of a group of artists trained at Mühendishane-i Berrî-i Hümâyûn (Imperial School of Military Engineering) in Istanbul who brought their artistic knowledge back to their home country. This group of soldier artists is credited with introducing easel painting to Iraq at the turn of the century. Working in a realist style, al-Rassam is known for his sweeping landscapes, immaculate portraits, and faithful portrayals of everyday life in Iraq. Among the best-known and prolific painters in modern Iraqi art, he greatly inspired younger generations.

Al-Rassam began his education around 1904, when the Ottoman Empire was still the ruling power in the region. As part of his education in Istanbul, al-Rassam and his classmates were required to produce paintings or drawings for military use. These images adhered to a strict European academic style. Eager to cultivate their new skill, these officers sought further art training. Al-Rassam studied under several prominent painters living in Istanbul who practiced en plein air (open air) painting techniques. Though he is mainly known as an oil painter, al-Rassam experimented during this period using watercolours depicting Istanbul with its marketplaces and crowds. Even early in his career, the painter demonstrated a keen vision and outstanding ability. World War I interrupted Al-Rassam's aspirations. The artist resumed easel painting right after the war when the group of soldier-artists returned to Iraq. He concentrated on landscapes, military scenes, and archaeological sites with his colleagues.

An essential characteristic of this generation was their desire to stimulate awareness and appreciation of the arts amongst the Iraqi population. Al-Rassam taught painting lessons in his studio in Baghdad and encouraged young artists to continue their training abroad. Due to this early artistic proselytising, al-Rassam became hugely influential to the following generations of artists. The painter's interest in promoting art awareness was further realised when he became an honorary member of the Friends of Art Society (Jamiyat Asdiqa al-Fan). This group sought to cultivate public interest in art making and to enhance their skill through interaction.

Utilising the same academic style as his early colleagues, al-Rassam painted with a crisp realism, capturing vistas of the Iraqi countryside. The detail allowed by oil paints is employed to its fullest by the artist, known for his precise depiction of environmental and architectural features and close adherence to accurate atmospheric perspective.

He often painted panoramic views of historical sites along the Tigris River. The ruins of Ctesiphon or the Great Mosque of Samarra were particularly notable representations in al-Rassam's oeuvre. The Tigris River was the central theme of many of al-Rassam's canvases. Winding as it recedes through expert use of atmospheric perspective; the river and the surrounding activities compose a vast yet serene landscape.

Al-Rassam was also, to a lesser extent, a portraitist. One of his well-known portraits is of Mohamed Darouich al-Allousi (1876–1938), completed in 1924. The bearded sitter meets the viewer with a directed stare. He is set against clouds that appear in many of al-Rassam’s landscapes. The subtleties of the face show the painter's mastery of modelling, and the sitter’s poignant gaze reflects Al-Rassam’s sharp observational ability. The portrait exhibits the same attention to clarity and detail as al-Rassam's landscapes.

A collection of al-Rassam's works was held at the Pioneers Museum in Baghdad and the Iraqi Museum of Modern Art until the destruction and looting of the museum's collection in 2003. He also created a mural for the entrance of The Royal Cinema in Baghdad. This was the first large-scale artwork to be displayed on a public building in the city. Later in his life, the artist travelled to Italy, France, Germany, and England to expand his knowledge of art.

Bibliography

Ali, Wijdan. Modern Islamic Art: Development and Continuity. Gainesville: Florida University Press, 1997.

Bahrani, Zainab and Nada Shabout. Modernism and Iraq. New York: Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University Press, 2009.

Faraj, Maysaloun, ed. Strokes of genius: Contemporary Iraqi art. London: Saqi Books, 2001.

Inati, Shams C, ed. Iraq: Its History, People, and Politics. New York: Humanity Books, 2003.

Jabra, Jabra I. The Grass Roots of Iraqi Art. Jersey: Wasit Graphic and Publishing Limited, 1983.

Mudaffar, May. "Iraq​." I​n Contemporary Art from the Islamic World, edited by Wijdan Ali. Amman: The Royal Society of Fine Arts, Essex, England: Scorpion Publishing, 1989.

Further Reading

Merzaban, Daliah, ed. Re:Orient: Investigating Modernism in the Arab World 1950s-'70s. Barjeel Art Foundation, UAE, 2013.

“Modern Art Iraq Archive.” http://artiraq.org/maia/. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

Pocock, Charles. Modern Iraqi Art: A Collection. Dubai: Meem Gallery, 2013.

Romaya, Bassam. "Iraq and the Question of Aesthetics." International Congress of Aesthetics (2007), 1-15.

Saad, Qassim. "Contemporary Iraqi Art: Origins and Development." Scope: Contemporary Research Topics (Art & Design, 2008) 3, 50-54.

Shabout, Nada. Sajjil: A Century of Modern Art. Exhibition catalogue. Doha: Arab Museum of Modern Art, 2010.