Al Farah (Joy) 1993

Ismail Shammout made this painting, Al Farah, with an expressive use of oil on canvas. You can really see the joyful energy through the brushstrokes alone. It’s clear that Shammout wasn’t interested in tight realism, but something more vibrant and free. Look at how he’s layered the paint, creating a thick impasto in some areas, especially around the figures’ faces and hands. These areas of texture give the painting a tangible, almost sculptural quality, like you could reach out and feel the joy. The faces tilted up, eyes sparkling, capture a collective spirit. The red, green, and black of the flag woven through the crowd create a sense of unity, of shared identity and hope. Shammout’s approach reminds me of German Expressionist painters like Emil Nolde, who used bold colors and gestural brushwork to convey intense emotions. Just like Nolde, Shammout isn’t afraid to let the paint speak. Art is a conversation and he joined it beautifully.