Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Untitled

Name Class Date

Rafa Al-Nasiri, Untitled (2008). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder.

The facts

Artist
Rafa Al-Nasiri originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/rafa-al-nasiri/
Artist’s dates
1940 – 2013
Painted
2008
Original size
150 x 180 cm
Movement
Expressive Abstraction

In context

Untitled — Rafa Al-Nasiri

How big is it?

The original measures 150 × 180 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1940
  2. 1950
  3. 1960
  4. 1970
  5. 1980
  6. 1990
  7. 2000
  8. 2010

Row above: the year. Row below: the artist's age in that year.

Painted when the artist was 68. The artist lived to 73. 6 of the 8 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Rafa Al-Nasiri (1940–2013) ▲ this work, 2008

First works: up to 1972 Main working years: 1972–2003 Late works: from 2003

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell.

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/rafa-al-nasiri-untitled-D2DTBF-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Midnight Blue #1c366a

    Catalogued palette

    • #1C366A
    • #1D2133
    • #95A7BF
    • #145390
    Palette
    Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Midnight Blue
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Rafa Al-Nasiri

    Born in Tikrit, Iraq

    early life and education

    rafa al-nasiri, a renowned iraqi painter, draughtsman, print-maker, educator, and author, was born in 1940 in tikrit, iraq. he received his early art education at baghdad's institute of fine arts, attaining a diploma in painting in 1959.

    artistic career and style

    al-nasiri's works are characterized by the incorporation of arabic letters and calligraphy, which he began to include in his paintings and prints after returning to baghdad in 1965. this unique blend of traditional elements with modern techniques resonated with the iraqi public, making him a major proponent of the pan-arab modern art movement that gained momentum during the 1970s.

    teaching and legacy

    al-nasiri taught at several prestigious institutions, including the institute of fine arts in baghdad, yarmouk university in jordan, and university of bahrain. his passing in 2013 in amman, jordan, marked the end of an era for iraqi modern art.

    artistic movement and influences

    al-nasiri's work is often associated with the abstract expressionism movement, which can be explored further through AllPaintingsStore's extensive collection /en/art/list/ his use of calligraphy and arabic letters also draws parallels with the neo-figurative art movement, as seen in some of the works featured on AllPaintingsStore (https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@@/a@d3crgr-neo-figurative-art).

    key works and exhibitions

    untitled (1965) - a seminal piece showcasing al-nasiri's early experimentation with calligraphy in abstract expression.

    the calligraphic series (1970s) - a collection of works that solidified his position within the pan-arab modern art movement.

    exhibition at AllPaintingsStore's virtual museum (2020) - a posthumous showcase of al-nasiri's works, highlighting his enduring influence on modern iraqi art.

    discover more about rafa al-nasiri and the pan-arab modern art movement through AllPaintingsStore's extensive collection and resources:

    rafa al-nasiri | artworks

    wahoo art timeline for a detailed overview of art history and movements.

    AllPaintingsStore, the virtual museum for art aficionados

    references:

    wikipedia.org - for general information on art movements and biographies.

    https://AllPaintingsStore.com/ - for specific artworks, artist biographies, and art historical context.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Untitled

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/rafa-al-nasiri-untitled-D2DTBF-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Al-Nasiri, Rafa. Untitled. 2008, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/rafa-al-nasiri-untitled-D2DTBF-en/
    APA
    Al-Nasiri, Rafa (2008). Untitled [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/rafa-al-nasiri-untitled-D2DTBF-en/
    Chicago
    Rafa Al-Nasiri. Untitled. 2008. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/rafa-al-nasiri-untitled-D2DTBF-en/
    Harvard
    Al-Nasiri, Rafa (2008) Untitled. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/rafa-al-nasiri-untitled-D2DTBF-en/

    Look closely

    Untitled — Rafa Al-Nasiri

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: abstract expressionism, blue and gold palette, calligraphic patterns. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Sunset (1992), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Rafa Al-Nasiri was about 68 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the creation date of "Untitled" by Rafa Al-Nasiri?

    "Untitled" dates from 2008. The date places the work within Rafa Al-Nasiri's career and its era.

    When was "Untitled" created, and to which movement does it belong?

    "Untitled" was made in 2008, within the Expressive Abstraction movement.

    Can I see "Untitled" by Rafa Al-Nasiri under different lights?

    The X-Ray view of "Untitled" by Rafa Al-Nasiri is on the artwork's X-Ray page: an interactive examination of the image through eleven optical layers.

    Who is the artist behind "Untitled"?

    "Untitled" is attributed to Rafa Al-Nasiri.

    How big is the original "Untitled"?

    The original "Untitled" by Rafa Al-Nasiri measures 150 x 180 cm.

    At what age did Rafa Al-Nasiri make "Untitled"?

    Rafa Al-Nasiri was 68 years old when creating "Untitled" in 2008. The age is computed from the artist's birth year, 1940.

    How many people view "Untitled"?

    A Stats page exists for "Untitled". It charts the monthly visits of the artwork and of the artist's other works, with country and language breakdowns.