The Lebanese Artists' Exhibition

The American Information Office in Beirut held an exhibition of Lebanese art, at which selected canvases were shown by the most famous of the Lebanese artists: Douaihy, Farroukh, Onsi, Wehbi, Khoury, Gemayel. The Lebanese public was given, for the first time, the opportunity to see some canvases by the Italian artist Manetti, professor at the Lebanese Academy; and the public was likewise given the chance to discover in Mr. Farid Awad a Lebanese artist of whom it is to be hoped — with the help of God, and the help of our Ministry of Education and Fine Arts — that he will take a singular place among the gifted Lebanese artists.

Among the canvases on display was work upon which no eye had yet fallen, as well as work that had been shown before. Since we are not now engaged in an artistic critique of these pictures, we shall content ourselves with saying that the Lebanese artists are producing, and are discovering new horizons in their new production; but on the whole they still suffer, a little or a great deal, from the want of a basic and important element in art — feeling and life. We shall return to this subject one day.

That said, nothing remains for us but to extend our thanks to the American Information Office for its kind initiative in encouraging Lebanese art. This is owing to the love and appreciation of art in general that Mr. Lewis, the director of the Office, carries with him. We know, besides, that Mrs. Lewis is an elegant and creative artist, and she therefore had a commendable influence on the holding of this art exhibition.

Below, on this page, is one scene from the opening reception, to which the journalists of this country were invited.