20th C Burned Woven Papyrus Portrait

Constructed from overlapping strips of woven bark fibre, this piece forms its image through the material itself. Darkened areas appear to have been burned into the surface rather than painted on, with controlled scorching used to create a simplified frontal face that emerges from the weave. The fibres remain fully exposed, giving the work a direct, tactile quality where surface and image are inseparable.
 
Made by the same hand as the signed Magdy H. papyrus painting, this work leans heavily into process. The face feels worn into the material rather than described, carrying the same biblical or icon-like undertone as its companion piece. We were drawn to the restraint of that approach — letting heat, fibre, and time do the work instead of relying on gesture or decoration.
 
Condition: Excellent
Size: W 25.5cm x H 25.5cm x D 2cm