Untitled 1950

Princess Fahrelnissa Zeid made this untitled artwork by building up strong colours within a gridded structure. You can almost sense the artist figuring it out as she goes, one colour leaning into the next. The colours here are vibrant, but not overpowering: the yellows and reds are tempered by softer pinks and whites. The black outline lends an element of graphic punch, but if you look closely, it varies in thickness, like the whole thing was done by hand. See how this lets the painting breathe and creates a sense of depth? It reminds me a little of stained glass, where light comes through each coloured panel, creating a luminous effect. Zeid’s art is often tied to her experience of living between different cultures, and I see that here, in how she creates her own visual language. Like the best art, it doesn’t give you all the answers at once. It invites you to look, feel, and think.