The Pioneers of Modernism in the Middle East: From the Turkish School of Paris to the Emergence of Arab Modern Art I No. 23 I Part II

Paris – July 9, 2026

Millon presents its summer sale of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art, bringing together an exceptional selection of major works from European private collections, with a particular focus on the artistic dialogues that shaped the modern art scenes of Paris, Baghdad, Beirut, Tehran, Cairo, and Istanbul. This sale illustrates the richness and diversity of the Middle Eastern avant-garde, from the pioneers of early 20th-century modernism to leading figures in contemporary art. Millon's Middle East department thus continues its mission of highlighting great Arab, Iranian, and Turkish artists for international collectors.///

The School of Paris and Turkish Artists: A History of Exile, Modernity, and the Avant-Garde.

One of the highlights of this sale is undoubtedly the significant collection devoted to Turkish artists of the School of Paris, testifying to the fundamental role played by the French capital in the emergence of abstraction and modern languages ​​within 20th-century Turkish art.

Led by the exceptional presence of Fahr-el-Nissa Zeid, a visionary figure whose compositions from the 1950s now constitute one of the pinnacles of international modernism, this section also brings together remarkable works by Nejad Devrim, a pioneer of lyrical abstraction; Abidine Dino, a key figure of the Turkish avant-garde based in Paris; as well as Mübin Orhon, Selim Turan, Avni Arbaş, and Mehmet Remzi Raşa.

These artists share a common trajectory: that of a generation that found in Paris an intellectual and aesthetic laboratory where European abstraction, Mediterranean heritage, and Eastern sensibilities converged. The remarkable collection of works by Abidine Dino, primarily from Parisian collections assembled in the 1950s, offers a rare panorama of more than three decades of creative output, from his expressionist ink drawings to the celebrated series produced in his Parisian studio.

Baghdad – Paris: Arab Modernity in Dialogue.

The sale devotes an exceptional chapter to the history of exchanges between Baghdad and Paris, retracing one of the most fruitful artistic adventures in the modern Arab world.

From pioneers such as Abdulkadir Al-Rassam, considered the father of modern Iraqi painting, to the great masters of the 1950s and 1960s generation, this section brings together major works by Faik Hassan, Jamil Hamoudi, Shakir Hassan Al-Said, Kadhim Haydar, Mohammed Ghani Hikmat, Ismail Fattah, Layla Al-Attar, Nuha Al-Radi and Ghazi Al-Saudi.

Trained for the most part in Baghdad, Rome, and Paris, these artists contributed to the invention of a unique Arab modernity, where Mesopotamian traditions, calligraphy, and Western abstract explorations converge. The works presented illustrate the extraordinary intellectual vitality of Baghdad during the 20th century and testify to the enduring influence of this school on several generations of Middle Eastern artists.

Iranian Modernities: Between Heritage and Experimentation.

The Iranian scene is represented by a particularly cohesive group, bringing together several major figures of modern and contemporary Iranian art. Among them are Jazeh Tabatabai, a pioneer of the Saqqakhaneh movement; Mohammad Ehsai, the undisputed master of contemporary calligraphy; Iran Darroudi; Sadegh Tabrizi; Hossein Mahjoubi; Fereydoun Ave; Ardeshir Mohassess; Khosrow Hassanzadeh; and Wahed Khakdan.

These works testify to the richness of the research conducted by Iranian artists since the 1960s on the synthesis of international modernism, Persian visual culture, and spiritual traditions.

Modern Egypt: From the pioneer Mahmoud Said to the Cairo avant-garde.

Another highlight of this sale is devoted to the major figures of modern Egyptian art.

At the head of this group is an important work by Mahmoud Said, considered the father of modern Egyptian painting, alongside a remarkable group of works by Ramses Younan, a key figure of Egyptian Surrealism, as well as by Gazbia Sirry, George Bahgoury, Omar El-Nagdi, Zeinab Abdel Hamid, Adli Rizkallah, and Ezechiel Baroukh, a cosmopolitan artist whose journey between Alexandria, Paris, and informal abstraction perfectly embodies the Mediterranean artistic exchanges of the 20th century.

This section traces the evolution of modern Egyptian art, from the construction of a national identity at the beginning of the century to the abstract and expressionist experiments of the post-war period.

Beirut, Jerusalem, Damascus: the great voices of the Levant.

The sale also brings together major works from the Levantine scene, with artists such as Chafic Abboud, Etel Adnan, Mona Hatoum, Ayman Baalbaki, Alfred Basbous, Assadour, Jamil Molaeb, Juliana Seraphim, Kamal Boullata, Fateh Moudarres, Nazir Nabaa, and Omar Hamdi (Malva).

From the lyrical abstraction of the post-war era to contemporary explorations of memory, exile, and identity, these works testify to the central place occupied by Beirut, Jerusalem, and Damascus in the artistic history of the modern Middle East.

Spanning over a century of artistic creation, this sale offers an exceptional journey through the major modern movements of the Middle East. From founding pioneers to internationally renowned figures of contemporary art, it highlights the ongoing exchanges between Paris and the cultural capitals of the Middle East, revealing the stories of artists who have contributed to writing an essential chapter in the history of 20th and 21st-century art.