Agegnehu Engida (1905 – 1950), [1] was an Ethiopian modern painter. He blended abstraction, expressionism, and surrealism, but maintained a style that was "distinctively Ethiopian." [2]
As part of Emperor Haile Selassie's education program, Agegnehu was granted a government scholarship to study at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France from 1926 to 1933. [2] After his return from Europe, Agegnehu held many art exhibitions. He also worked on commissions for military uniforms, birr currency designs, church murals and portraits. [2]
In 1941, Agegnehu became the assistant director of Ethiopia's new Department of Fine Arts in the Ministry of Education and Fine Arts. [2]
He died of unknown causes in 1950, shortly after finishing the painting Twelve Donkeys. [3]
Few works by the artist are known to survive today. [4] Two of his portraits are housed in the National Museum of Ethiopia: a self-portrait and a portrait of Aster Mengesha. [2]
Agegnehu Engida (1905 – 1950), [1] was an Ethiopian modern painter. He blended abstraction, expressionism, and surrealism, but maintained a style that was "distinctively Ethiopian." [2]
As part of Emperor Haile Selassie's education program, Agegnehu was granted a government scholarship to study at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France from 1926 to 1933. [2] After his return from Europe, Agegnehu held many art exhibitions. He also worked on commissions for military uniforms, birr currency designs, church murals and portraits. [2]
In 1941, Agegnehu became the assistant director of Ethiopia's new Department of Fine Arts in the Ministry of Education and Fine Arts. [2]
He died of unknown causes in 1950, shortly after finishing the painting Twelve Donkeys. [3]
Few works by the artist are known to survive today. [4] Two of his portraits are housed in the National Museum of Ethiopia: a self-portrait and a portrait of Aster Mengesha. [2]