Google commemorated on Monday the late Egyptian painter, writer and musician Hussein Bicar (1913-2002) with a Doodle representing one of his paintings. Bicar was born in Alexandria on 2 January 1913. He graduated in 1933 from the Higher Institute of Arts in Cairo and became a member of the painting department in the Faculty of Fine Arts at Cairo University. As a painter, Bicar explored a variety of forms and media. He is best known for combining a modern artistic style with a focus on traditional settings and themes in Egyptian culture. Many of the artist's works portray Egyptians in rural areas, or depict pharaonic-era scenery. His paintings on Nubian culture – Harvest, A Nubian Dance, Al Ashjar Tamout Wakifa (The Trees Die Standing), Al Mowaad (The Rendezvous), and more – have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars at Christie's. In addition to painting, Bicar was a well-known illustrator for a variety of newspapers, magazines, as well as children's books, many of which he also authored. He was a founding illustrator for "Sinbad," the first Arabic-language children's magazine launched in 1952. An avid music lover, Bicar played lute and oud. Though he never studied music formally and described himself as never going “beyond the ear” in his musical education, Bicar enjoyed teaching lute to youth and performing with numerous bands. The Hussein Bicar Google Doodle is regional and can be viewed in North Africa and the Middle East. Illustration for the first issue of 'Sindbad' magazine cover, by Bicar, 1952 For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture
