Drawings From Libya by Mohammed Hijji

Mohammed Hijji’s works were characterized right from the beginning as he joined Al Mansura magazine, then Rosel Youssef and Sabah Al-Kheir, by realism and strong tries with everyday life. M. Hijji would never content himself with drawing done at his office a tthe magazine headquarters in Cairo, but was constantly travelling wound in the crowded cities, remote villages, isolated oases and battle fronts. His travels were not merely aimed at searching for a lively topic to depict, but also at experiencing life in its full dimensions and sensing a more effective role for his drawings, thus raising their value from sheer objects embellishing the columns of newspapers to a lively matter of touching the reader’s life and mind, joust like poems, novels and articles. This is why Hijji’s drawings are full of warm sincerity and conspicuous richness, which have become a well-known characteristic of his works. Mohammed Hijji produced thousands of drawings from several Arab countries through his numerous trips within the Arab world…However, his experience in Libya may be considered the most comprehensive of all and also remains closer to him, for he had the opportunity to live long enough with the Libyans — over a period of four successive years– during which he was unceasingly moving across towns, villages, oases, mountains, wondering, contemplating and scrutinizing every detail in the people’s life. M. Hijji, one of the Arab world’s most eminent artist, worked in Libya from 1973 to 1977. It was during that period that he composed Drawings From Libya.