“The history of painting is tied to that of humanity,” said one of the founding fathers of Algerian contemporary painting Mohammed Khadda, who is celebrated in today’s Doodle.
Born on this day in 1930 in the Algerian port city of Mostaganem, Khadda developed a passion for art during his formative years working at a local printing press. The sketches and illustrations he drew for the company’s books instilled in him a deep appreciation for calligraphy and his Arab roots.
In his late teens, Khadda decided to formally hone his artistic skills at the School of Fine Arts in the neighboring city of Oran, learning a variety of new techniques, from watercolors to sculpture. In 1953, a journey across the Mediterranean beckoned his name, and Khadda left for Paris to pursue his artistic career.
The vibrant Parisian art community passed invaluable knowledge onto Khadda. Studying under prolific artists such as Pablo Picasso, he tactfully refined his expression in the years that led up to his 1960 debut. His paintings often showcased a blend of his African heritage with Western styles on canvasses featuring Arabic calligraphy meshed with his non-figurative abstract work. This distinct combination became Khadda’s calling card, and he gradually came to represent a new genre of Algerian artists.
After a decade abroad, Khadda moved back to newly independent Algeria, where he began to cultivate the talent of artists in his hometown. Khadda and his work continue to influence artists in Africa and beyond.
عيد ميلاد سعيد يا محمد الخدة!
(Happy birthday, Mohammed Khadda!)
Early concepts by Doodler Alyssa Winans
Get up close to the pioneering Algerian painter’s works, combining Arabic and abstract languages, on Google Arts & Culture.
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