Haifa & Yafa: Palestinian Portrait Painting

Haifa and Yafa: portrait of a Palestinian grandmother in a white veil embracing her young granddaughter

$500.00

About Haifa and Yafa

This piece captures the essence of familial love and generational bonds. The centerpiece is Haifa, an elderly grandmother, whose face is etched with the wisdom of years, her eyes sparkling with a gentle kindness. Her white veil, flowing softly around her face, is complemented by the faint lines of time that grace her skin. She's clothed in a traditional Palestinian, elegant dress, rich in texture and color, reflecting her cultural heritage.

In her embrace is her young granddaughter Yafa, a symbol of youthful beauty and innocence. The girl's eyes are wide with admiration and love, her face illuminated by a radiant smile. Her hair is long and flowing, perhaps mirroring the youthful version of her grandmother. She wears a simple, yet charming dress, vibrant in color, harmoniously blending with her grandmother's attire.

The background is a blur of the hues of a sunny day's sky, suggesting a cozy and intimate setting. The lighting is soft and warm, casting a glow that enhances the warmth and happiness of the moment.

Their embrace is tender and close, bridging the gap between old and young, past and future, creating a timeless moment of joy and love. The painting, rich in emotional depth, invites the viewer to reflect on their own familial bonds and the enduring nature of love across generations.

An artwork from the "Palestine Series" collection

These works are named for places and for people: Gaza, Jabalia, Rafah, Khan Younis, Haifa and Yafa. Some of the figures stand in full colour against the sea and the city, carrying the beauty and the heritage of where they come from. Others are caught at the moment of separation, when war takes one person from another. The series holds both at once, because both are true of the same place, and because remembering only the grief would be its own kind of erasure.

The artist paints them as portraits rather than reports. Each face is given the same care, ornament and colour she gives any of her figures, so that the people are seen as people first. She hopes they are looked at slowly, and that the names stay with the viewer after they have walked away.