Jaffa Kaak Seller, Circa 1940

This painting shows a kaak seller in the main market square of Jaffa circa 1940. The reference photo is from the Matson collection of pre-1948 Palestine in the Library of Congress. Kaak is a tasty, ring-shaped bread covered in sesame seeds sold widely in the Middle East. The view is of the main market square, and the minaret in the background belongs to the Mahmoudiya Mosque, also known as the Jami'a al-Kabir, the Great Mosque. The mosque has two domes and a monumental entryway on its east wall, which is marked by the curved structure above the row of shops and next to the largest dome. There were many challenges in recreating this scene from an old black and white photo. I describe them in my April 2023 blogpost "Annals of a Middle East Treat". The painting is 10 x 14 inches framed to 16 x 20 inches, with a light mat, ash frame and museum-quality anti-UV and anti-reflective glazing.