The History of a Period

The destruction of Damour (130 x 162 cm - 1976)

The whole is dramatic and tragic. The sky is dark and the town deserted. The inhabitants are gathered on the shoreline, where one small embarkation allows a little ray of hope. In the foreground lies a dog lifeless. There is great play of contrasts and mastery in the execution.

The whole atmosphere is tragic. On a lowering sky and on a shore without hope, the scene unfolds. This is the town of Damour, now a ghost town. The townsfolk scattered here and there turn towards the crowd huddled together in front of a boat.

Displaced Persons (130 x 190 cm - 1977)

A whole village flees the native soil, children, women, the elderly, domestic animals, mothers with their babies, each one clutching his or her most precious belongings, a basket, a portfolio, a carpet, pots or whatever else can be grabbed. A corpse lies stretched in the foreground, a dog draws close to his master, a goat wanders aimlessly, and donkeys plod under their loads. The composition is formed of horizontal lines, with a background seen in perspective representing a town utterly destroyed. The dominant colors are shades of ochre with the warm contrasting colors forcing the attention. The people form a queue without beginning or end.

>> Fifth page <<