Draft:Said Aït Youssef

Saïd Ait Youssef} (1920 – 1986) was a Moroccan painter considered the archetype of the modern naive art movement in Morocco. His naive art is characterized by richly colored pictures of Moroccan villages and traditional rituals. Ait Youssef's approach to representation is typically of "naive art," with a design that is effectively poetic. His art conveys a striking quality of the traditions' atmosphere through accurate and sensitive observation of the colors of the natural environment. He is known for his richly colored pictures of Moroccan villages and the traditional rituals. Ait Youssef contributed significantly to the foundation of the Naive movement's philosophy in the country.

Biography

Saïd Ait Youssef was born in 1920 and hailed from a modest background in the Aït Bouguemez Valley. His early life was marked by a pivotal experience when he joined the French military service in 1947 at the age of 18. During his service, he was deployed to Indochina, where he was captured. This period exposed him to diverse perspectives through interactions with fellow soldiers, primarily from France, whose stories captivated him. The vividness with which Ait Youssef later portrayed nature is believed to have been influenced by these early experiences.

Upon his return from the Vietnam War, Ait Youssef was released from military service and settled in Marrakech in 1951. The following year, he married Aicha El Messaoudi, the only daughter of a tradesman. In Marrakech, he worked at the Hospital, while dedicating a significant portion of his time to art in a room he set aside for this purpose. He often traveled back to his village to reconnect with family memories, which likely inspired his artistic themes.

Ait Youssef had been drawing and painting since his childhood. His initial artistic ambition was to emulate the style of the French academicians of his time. However, his unique vision gradually evolved towards what would later be recognized as Moroccan Naive art.

Artistic Career and the Naive Art Movement

In 1959, Ait Youssef exhibited some of his early paintings at the Art Gallery of Marrakech. This annual exhibition, established by French internationally recognized visionaries, provided a platform for emerging artists. This marked a significant step in his artistic journey and public recognition.

Ait Youssef is considered a key figure in the establishment of the modern Naive art movement in Morocco. His work, characterized by rich colors and depictions of Moroccan village life and traditional rituals, set a precedent for this artistic style in the country. He is credited with contributing to the foundational philosophy of this movement.

Despite an auspicious beginning, Ait Youssef's work initially went largely unnoticed. However, this period of personal hardship coincided with increased artistic activity. His naivete became a powerful tool for artistic self-expression and even influenced his son's artistic path.

In 1975, Ait Youssef retired from his position at the Hospital to fully dedicate himself to painting. It was shortly after that he met Jacques Majorelle, a renowned artist based in Marrakech, whose influence significantly impacted the art scene. Majorelle, impressed by Ait Youssef's unique artistic vision, introduced the self-taught artist to intellectual circles associated with the avant-garde society of international artists.

Paintings

    Bain Maure ou Hammam
    Chevaux de Ait Youssef 1970 
    Minaret, 1970 
    Porte Verte - 1970 
    Scène de mouton 1970 
    Adam et Eve 1971 
    Moussem 1971 
    Scène de campagne, 1972 
    Les Voiliers 
    Sans Titre - 1974 
    La Marche Verte - 1975 
    Scène de campagne, 1976 
    Orchestre de Femmes, 1976 
    Devant La Kasbah - 1976 
    Les Pécheurs, 1976 
    Ecole Coranique, 1976 
    Fantasia 1979 
    Préparation du couscous, 1979 
    Scène de campagne, 1979 
    Le Marchand de Beignets - 1981 
    Circumcision scene - 1983 
    Les Musiciennes - 1980 
    L'Arganier - 1981

Exhibitions

    1950: First exhibition, Marrakech. 
    1973: Galerie Venise Cadre, Casablanca (Gallery Venice Framework, Casablanca.)
    1975: Atlas Hotel, Agadir.   
    1975: Galerie Venise Cadre, Casablanca
    1977: Alliance française, Rabat (French Alliance, Rabat.) 
    1984: Hotel des Almohades, Tanger (Hotel Almohads, Tangier.)
    1984: Hotel Sahara , Agadir 
    1984: Musée des Oudayas, Rabat
    1985: 1985 Musée du BAtha, Fès (Batha Museum, Fes)
    1995: "Regards immortels", organized by the SGMB Riad Salam, Casablanca. 
    2013: Matisse Art Gallery (Marrakech et Casablanca) Exposition d'art naïf et brut 
    1er Festival national des arts populaires (région sud) en Hommage à la peinture de Saïd Ait Youssef 

Considered the archetype of the modern naive art movement in Morocco. Known for his richly colored pictures of Moroccan villages and traditional rituals. Contributed to the foundation of the Naive movement philosophy in Morocco. Exhibited his early paintings at the Art Gallery of Marrakech in 1959, gaining public recognition.