Art in Palestine

Before 1948, Palestine was not very productive in terms of art. This is largely due to the trubulent and unstable conditions which beseiged the Palestinian scene throughout the first half of the century. Most Palestinians, artists and other wise were just trying to cope with the day to day living. Yet in spite of such extremely unfavorable circumtstances, many Palestinain "artists" managed to demonstrate their inborn talents.

Around the 1960's, there was a feeling of change sweeping the land of Palestine. The Palestinian personality, the lost Palestinian identity, were being reasserted. Armed organizations were formed. Palestinian men and women rushed to fill their ranks. The Palestinian Liberation Organization was declared; the first shot was fired, and the Palestinian revolution--the Palestinian armed struggle--was underway.

The Palestinian artists expressed themselves and their people in this movement. Their works during the period reflected images of a dawning revolution. They hinted at what was to come. This proved the Palestinian artist's identity with the Palestinian cause, of the capacity to predict the people's course of action, a capacity derived from the constant involvement with the cause and full awareness of all developments that were happening.