By Taghreed Saadeh
The recent sale of a painting by renowned Palestinian artist Suleiman Mansour for $420,000 at a public auction in London has attracted widespread attention on social media and across artistic and media circles. Mansour himself clarified the details of the sale, stressing that he did not personally receive any portion of the substantial sum.
In a post on his Facebook page, Mansour wrote, “To whom it may concern, about a week ago, one of my paintings was sold at a public auction in London for $420,000. I would like to clarify that I originally sold the painting in 2015 for only $20,000, and the latest sale price belongs to the collector who purchased it from me at that time. Not a single cent from this transaction went into my pocket, and my bank account remains unchanged.”
Mansour added, humorously, “All I gained from this transaction is some respect from acquaintances—not friends—who know the truth, particularly the bank employee who finally stopped asking me the usual question: ‘What do you do for a living?’”
The Palestinian artist also offered advice to his fellow artists, “These prices are beyond the artist’s control, and sometimes intervening can backfire. The art market has its own rules, far removed from the artist’s influence.”
Suleiman Mansour is widely regarded as one of the leading figures in Palestinian contemporary art, known for works that document Palestinian identity and cultural resistance, including his famous painting “Jamal al-Mahamel” (The Camel/Carrier of Hardships), which has become an iconic visual symbol of Palestinian struggle.
Previous editions of this painting have been sold at auctions for amounts ranging between $250,000 and $300,000, cementing its status as one of the most significant works in modern Palestinian art.
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