Woman and Child

Abdulkarim AlBosta was a painter best known for his abstract depictions of local scenery and landscapes. He and his contemporaries dedicated their weekends to exploring their villages and sketching their surroundings.

In Woman and Child, AlBosta depicts a woman and her child standing in an alleyway in Manama, probably Ras Ruman, where the artist spent most of his life. The figures are surrounded by typical traditional Bahraini architecture and doors. In the background is the Al-Fadhel Minaret of the Grand Al-Fadhel Mosque. The Al-Fadhel Mosque is one of Bahrain's most famous landmarks, built during the nineteenth century and subsequently became one of the nation's most significant religious sites. The mosque is named after Sheikh Fadhel bin Soheil Al Kharafi, after whom the neighbourhood, Fereej AlFadhel, is named. The minaret, that is about 130 feet, was an important aspect of Bahrain's visual identity, serving as a signal for incoming vessels at Manama port, indicating arrival in Bahrain and specifically, Manama.

This artwork represents a turning point in the artist's oeuvre, marking the onset of his artistic development in 1967 through the introduction of abstract elements in colour, line and shape. This marked the beginning of his engagement with folkloric themes.