Family Conversation on a Street leading to Al-Azhar Mosque, Cairo, Egypt, oil on canvas nailed to wooden stretcher, signed Max Arnold, dated 1922. 

The oil on canvas orientalist study is in quite good condition with quite good colours. There is general surface dust accumulation and light spot/marking in places, particularly the sky area. This will benefit from general cleaning. There are also a few small tears to the canvas support, the largest being a 20mm vertical tear on the lower edge to the lh side of the signature and a 6mm wide tear on the ankle of the seated figure; the remainder being very small surface holes which are not noticeable in normal viewing. The painting is signed Max Arnold in brown paint with the date 1922 below the signature. 

The study is particularly interesting  depicting the Haret el Yahood quarter of Al-Azhar district in the 1920's with typical hanging sunshade awnings above the small stores and work-shops. The scene is dominated by the minaret of the Al-Azhar mosque and the shadow of the dome, with birds in flight around the balcony. 

This work is in Max Wechsler Arnold's pre-impressionist style, confirmed by the dated signature 1922, prior to his influence by the German Expressionist movement following his graduation in 1920 at the Fine Arts School in Iasi Romania. He travelled in Europe and the Orient before studying in Germany and Italy where he changed his style. He was born and died in Romania although he worked all over Europe and the Orient. He is known to sign his work Max W. Arnold, Max Arnold, Max Wechsler, Arnold and Max Wexler. 

The painting is nailed to the original wooden stretcher which has framer's pencil script in places. 

Please view the images above. Contact for any enquiries.

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