Fantasmic Objects: Art and Sociality from Lebanon, 1920-1950

The study of modern art in Lebanon has inspired citizens to define themselves as a postcolonial nation. Kirsten L. Scheid's book, "Fantasmic Objects," explores the careers of Moustapha Farrouk, Omar Onsi, and Saloua Raouda Choucair, revealing how art and artists helped found the nation during French occupation. It offers an insightful approach to the history and formation of modern Lebanon.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 374 pages
Publication date: 06 December 2022
Publisher: Indiana University Press

In Lebanon, the study of modern art has emerged as a powerful lens through which citizens confront their identity as a postcolonial nation. Kirsten L. Scheid's book, Fantasmic Objects, delves into this rich tapestry by exploring the intersection of modern art and modern Lebanon. Through the compelling narratives of Moustapha Farrouk, Omar Onsi, and Saloua Raouda Choucair, Scheid traces the evolution of new exhibition, pedagogical, and art-writing practices, shedding light on the emerging sense of national identity.

Art and artists played a pivotal role in shaping the nation during the French occupation. The formal qualities and international exhibitions of nudes and landscapes in the 1930s crystallized notions of modern masculinity, patriotic femininity, non-sectarian religiosity, and citizenship. Scheid's book delves into the efforts of painters, sculptors, and activists who fiercely upheld aesthetic development and battled for new forms of political being, offering an insightful approach to the history and formation of modern Lebanon.

This captivating exploration of modern art and its role in shaping Lebanese identity invites readers to reimagine their understanding of art and its power to shape societies.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780253064240