Bibi Zogbé (Sahel Alma, Lebanon 1890-1975, Mar del Plata, Argentina), Untitled (Retamas)

Lot Details & Additional Photographs

Oil on canvas, signed at the lower right, retaining label for J. Assenheim & Son of New York to the verso, presented in a period frame.

Stretcher size 24 x 20 in.; Frame dimensions 28 1/2 x 24 in.

Bibi Zogbé was a Modernist painter celebrated for her vibrant floral compositions and portraits, earning the nickname "La Pintora de Flores" ("The Flower Painter"). Born in Sahel Alma, Lebanon, she emigrated to Argentina at the age of sixteen, where she established her artistic career while maintaining a lifelong connection to her homeland. Frequent travels to Lebanon inspired her richly colored depictions of blooming plants and landscapes, which became metaphors for renewal, artistic expression, and personal freedom. Influenced by both Arab and European modernism, she also developed a distinctive body of portraits inspired by Byzantine icons, emphasizing the dignity, spirituality, and resilience of her subjects.

Zogbé exhibited widely throughout South America, Europe, and the Middle East during her lifetime. In 1947, she was awarded the Lebanese Cedar Medallion of Excellence, and the following year became the only female artist selected for a catalog of Lebanese artists published by the Lebanese government. She has received international recognition in recent years, and was included in the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2024.

Two patches to the verso, one with associated area of rubbing with losses at lower left.