Jean Khalifé

Jean Khalifé (1923 – 1978) was a pioneer in the development of modern art in Lebanon, Jean Khalifé was a prize-winning painter who was born in Hadtoun, in the north of the country. He attended the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA) in 1947, studying with the well-known Lebanese artist Cesar Gemayel, among others, before travelling to Paris in 1951. There, he furthered his studies at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, after being awarded a scholarship from the Lebanese government. He also spent time in Rome, where he participated in the ‘Salon d’Inverno’ at Galleria Margutissima, and in London, before returning to Lebanon.

Khalifé was known for using innovative techniques in his artworks, blending traditional elements with a modernist approach, in a style that evolved over the years. He was also recognised for the key role he played in inspiring the next wave of artists to experiment with new ways of working. Often depicting the landscapes of his home village, his early works displayed the influence of the Impressionists. Later on, he moved towards abstract expressionism in his landscape and figurative art, which he created with vigorous, spontaneous, yet detailed brushstrokes in a bold, vibrant palette, using a variety of mediums that spanned oil, tempera, pastels and watercolours. Sometimes featuring symbols and allegories, Khalifé’s artwork provides opportunities and room for audiences to make their own, personal interpretations of the pieces on display.

“I am for the universality of art. What matters to me is the deep attitude that the artist has towards the world for his art to touch the whole of humanity,” he said. “The pioneer artist is not the product of a heritage rather its creator.”

He was also known for his portraiture, garnering a reputation for an ability to capture an uncanny likeness of his subjects, even when adopting an abstract approach, and works depicting the female form.

Khalifé’s work can be found in prestigious public and private collections worldwide, including those of the Sursock Museum and the Abraham Karabajakian collection in Beirut, among others, and at the Jean Khalifé Museum, which was established in 1979 in his home village of Hadtoun.

His art was exhibited extensively in his lifetime, displayed in more than 60 shows worldwide from the 1950s onwards, including in key solo events and biennales.

These include high-profile posthumous events, such as: ‘Hidden Treasures’, a 100-year birthday anniversary of the artist, L’Atelier Maher Attar, Gemmayzeh, Beirut (2023); ‘100-year Anniversary Show’, Lebanese American University, Beirut (2023); ‘Retrospective Exhibition in Homage to Jean Khalifé’, Sursock Museum, Beirut (1993); and a display of 59 pastel, charcoal, gouache and felt paintings, at the Gab Centre, Beirut (1980). Other earlier milestone solo shows include events at: the Arab Cultural Centre, Damascus (1977); the John F. Kennedy American Centre (1973); Modulart, Beirut (1972); Dar el-Fan, Beirut (1970); and Galerie de l’Université, Paris (1963).

His work has also featured in several collectives, including high-profile group shows, such as; the ‘Salon d’Automne’ exhibitions at the Sursock Museum (1961-1974); the Alexandria Biennales (1960-1966); the collective spring exhibitions organised by the Ministry of National Education and Fine Arts (1959-1973); the Sao Paulo Biennales (1967-1971); a collective held at the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, Oxford (1971); and another at the Tate Gallery, London (1971);

In 1982, four paintings were presented at the Sursock Museum as part of a tribute to Khalifé and other ‘missing’ artists. More recent shows that have featured Khalifé’s work posthumously include: NABU Museum opening, Batroun (2019); Beirut Art Fair (2017); and ‘The Road to Peace: Paintings in Times of War, 1975–1991’, organised by Saleh Barakat, Beirut Art Centre (2009).

Khalifé taught at several institutions over the years, including at ALBA and the National Institute of Fine Arts, Lebanese University, where he was Professor of Painting, and became Head of the Art Workshop in 1973. He was a member of the Association of Lebanese Artists of Painting and Sculpture, holding the position of Chair from 1967-1971.

Khalifé was the recipient of several awards in his lifetime, including the Lebanese Ministry of National Education Award (1956, 1957) and the Prize of the President’s Wife Zalfa Chamoun, Beirut (1968). He was awarded the Lebanese Order of Merit in 1979.