The latest exhibition of works by Hossam Dirar, one of the Middle East's most promising artists today, pays homage to 19th-century Cairo through his re-interpretation of Orientalist paintings. “Le Caire 1801,” which opened at the Soma Art Gallery in Cairo on Feb. 4, features works in which Dirar has added his own touch of striking colors, among them shades of red and blue, to the older works depicting Western artists’ images of Egypt.

“I took European Orientalist artists’ paintings, which I duplicated as black and white photos, and then I painted over them using acrylic paints and inks,” Dirar told Al-Monitor. “I used collage techniques on some of the works.”

The exhibition is partly inspired by “Description de l’Egypt,” a richly illustrated, 24-volume work on the topography, architecture, monuments, natural life and population of Egypt. The group of scientists and artists who accompanied Napoleon on his 1798 expedition to Egypt, some 160 in all, compiled this classic work from 1802 to 1829. Published in Europe, the volume became an influential scientific and artistic document recording Egyptian life at the time, significantly impacting 19th-century European art, including producing the style of visual art, architecture, fashion and literature under the rubric of Orientalism.

“With this exhibition, I want to show people the good old days of Cairo, which we no longer see — the beautiful Egypt that we have lost, the buildings, people and the lifestyle in general,” Dirar remarked.