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To be painted is to be seen. Not just as you are, but as you wish to be remembered. Throughout history, rulers, artists, and icons have sat for portraits not merely to capture their likeness but to etch their presence into eternity. Kings and queens commissioned grand portraits to assert power, to craft an image of divinity, to shape the way history would recall them. Celebrities, too, have stepped into the frame, immortalised in oil and canvas, seeking a permanence that film and flashbulbs cannot quite promise.
For the Arab divas who defined an era, portraiture is yet another stage. Learn the stories behind their portraits, and discover how these legends continue to live on in art.
UMM KUTLHUM
Renowned Egyptian artist Salah Taher, who was also a friend of the Egyptian icon, captured the essence of Umm Kulthum in two portraits.
FAIRUZ
Lebanese artist Cici Tommaseo-Sursock painted Fairuz in 1980, producing a portrait that resonated deeply with the iconic singer. Fairuz cherished this artwork, displaying it prominently in her home and even featuring it later on as the cover art for her album “Sayyef Ya Sayf.” The portrait features three faces, one of the interpretations is that each face symbolises different facets of Fairuz’s persona: her inner self, her social demeanor, and her powerful voice—the blue face representing her voice. The portrait gained renewed attention in 2020 when French President Emmanuel Macron visited Fairuz at her home, with the artwork visible in the background.
FATEN HAMAMA
In 1962, esteemed artist Ezz El-Din Hamouda completed a portrait of Egyptian actress Faten Hamama, known as the “Lady of the Arabic Screen.” Upon inquiring about the price, Hamouda quoted 500 Egyptian pounds. Surprised by the sum, she sent a letter to her husband at the time, Omar Sharif, in London, stating: “It seems that Professor Hamouda does not live in this world; who is this madman who would pay 500 pounds for my portrait?” In response, Omar Sharif sent her a telegram from London saying: “I am the madman who will buy the painting.”
Hamama valued the portrait so much that it appeared in several of her films, often displayed in the background.
DALIDA
French-Italian artist Raymond Moretti’s 1959 portrait of singer Dalida captures the depth and complexity of the beloved performer. The painting portrays Dalida gazing forward, with vibrant colours and emotional intensity, offering a glimpse into the late French-Italian-Egyptian artist’s multifaceted persona.
