Algeria
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Mohammed Racim
Algiers (Casbah), Algeria
Archival Overview
Peerless Algerian artist who revived and revolutionized Islamic miniature painting and manuscript illumination, blending traditional Persian-Ottoman aesthetics with Western perspective to depict the pre-colonial glory of Algiers.
Biographical Record
Mohammed Racim (1896–1975) was born into an illustrious Casbah family of Turkish-Algerian woodcarvers and manuscript illuminators. Working in the colonial drafting office, he mastered Western oil perspective while studying classical Persian and Mughal miniatures in European museums.
Racim created a stunning, entirely original miniature painting school: utilizing magnifying lenses and single-hair brushes, he rendered jewel-like depictions of pre-1830 Ottoman Algiers, naval corsair fleets, court banquets, and Ramadan nights. His masterpieces, collected in The Islamic Life in the Past, restored cultural pride to colonized Algerians. He was murdered in his studio in 1975.
Key Life Milestones
Grand Prize of the City of Paris
Awarded the vermeil medal of Paris, celebrated internationally as the greatest modern Islamic miniaturist.
Publication of The Islamic Life in the Past
Published his definitive deluxe art monograph capturing the rich cultural life of pre-colonial Algiers.
Memorial Guestbook & Tributes
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Final Resting Place
Perpetual MemorialAlgiers, Algeria