Father and Son

This sculpture by one of Lebanon’s best-known artists is a charming piece of work, which displays the deep-rooted closeness and familial bonds that exist between father and son. The love between the two protagonists is clearly evident in the way that the artist has cleverly intertwined the figures, which encircle each other affectionately with their arms, while the boy’s feet rest endearingly on his father’s upper leg. There is a calmness about the pose, almost as if, in the way that art often reflects real life, no words are needed at this moment in time to express the bond that exists between the twosome.
Born in Rachana, Basbous enjoyed a long and successful career, with his first exhibition at the Alecco Saab Gallery, Beirut, in 1958 thrusting him firmly into the spotlight. In 1960, he received a scholarship from the French government, which enabled him to study under the sculptor René Collamarini at the National Fine Arts School in Paris (L’Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Paris). The following year, his works featured at the International Sculpture Exhibition at the Musée Rodin, Paris.
Working in the tradition of sculptors such as Auguste Rodin, Jean Arp and Henry Moore, Basbous explored the potential of fine materials, such as bronze, wood and marble, to express the sensuality and purity of the human form. An evident aversion to frivolous and meaningless embellishments in his pieces echoes his own philosophy of simplicity and earnestness. Focused on the aesthetic principles of shape, movement, line and material, his sculptures display a deeply ingrained sincerity and a search for the essence of beauty.