Hatem El Mekki

Hatem El Mekki
An example of Hatem El Mekki artwork
Born(1918-05-16)May 16, 1918
Batavia, Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta, Indonesia)
DiedSeptember 23, 2003(2003-09-23) (aged 85)
Carthage, Tunisia
EducationLycée Carnot de Tunis
Known forPostage stamp designs for Tunisia (from 1957)
Coin design for Tunisia (1988–1990)
Chinese-influenced aquarelle technique
StylePainting
Watercolour
Poster design
Illustration
AwardsFirst Poster Prize, Paris (1947)

Hatem El Mekki (May 16, 1918 – September 23, 2003) was a prominent Tunisian painter. He was born in Batavia, Dutch East Indies, and died in Carthage in 2003.

From 1957, his artwork appeared on a large number of postage stamps of Tunisia. El Mekki drew the head of the coin used in Tunisia from 1988 to 1990.[1]

Education

El-Mekki arrived in Tunis in 1924 and studied at the Lycée Carnot de Tunis. During his time there, he developed a distinctive Chinese aquarelle (watercolour) technique, despite being unaware at the time of his partial Chinese heritage.[2]

Career

In 1947, El-Mekki received the First Poster Prize in Paris. During his time in Paris, El-Mekki associated with prominent art and literary figures, including Albert Camus (Nobel Prize in Literature laureate), philosopher Gaston Bachelard, Gertrude Stein, Daniel-Rops, and others. He also illustrated works by international authors from the United States, Australia, France, Scotland, and Germany.

References

  1. ^ "Artist: Hatem El Mekki". dubaicollection.ae. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  2. ^ "Hatem El Mekki - Artist, Fine Art Prices, Auction Records for Hatem El Mekki". www.askart.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2025-12-15.