Hussein Bicar was one of Egypt’s most prominent artists of the 20th century. He is most known for his simple and clear style reflecting the influence of Egyptian history such as scenes depicting Pharaohs and the building of the great pyramids, as well as graceful Egyptian peasants which convey a sense of harmony, serenity and mystic. Bicar emphasized that an artist should not be limited to a single style but should give himself to the subject and allow it to dictate the appropriate style. True to this belief, Bicar was a major figure in the art of scene of Cairo for more than 50 years, and has many recognizable styles of art as a musician, poet, painter, teacher, illustrator, reporter and storywriter
He graduated from school in 1933, after which he spent more than 60 years of his life teaching art at primary, secondary schools as well as in 1943 he became chair of the painting department at Cairo University. In 1939, was selected as a member of a team of teachers to teach in Morocco and Bicar spent 4 years in Morocco were he learned to speak Spanish fluently before returning to Egypt with the outbreak of World War Two.
Bicar also worked as an illustrator and art critic for Akhbar Al Youm newspaper. Bicar also was the first Egyptian artist to illustrate Arabic children’s books, entitled Sinbad.
He received a number of awards and decorations over his lifetime including the Medal of Pride in 1942, the First Class Medal of Science and Art, in 1967, the Gamal Abd el Nasser Award in,the National Certificate 0f Appreciation and Medal of Honour in 1980 and most recently, the Mubarak Prize in 2000. He went to jail in 1980 when the Egyptian government arrested a number of Bahá’ís whose faith was banned in the 1960s. Eventually the charges were dropped and after the trial, Bicar received the Mubarak Prize and his public status was revitalized.
He died on November 16, 2002 when he was 90 years old. On January 2, 2017, Google Doodle commemorated Hussein Amin Bicar’s 104th birthday.