Harees

Visual Description:

The painting portrays a young Bahraini woman seated on step stool, absorbed in the rhythmic act of preparing Harees, a traditional Gulf dish made by pounding wheat and meat into a creamy porridge. She wears a vibrant red traditional dress patterned with yellow floral motifs that radiate warmth and cultural authenticity. Her long, flowing black hair cascades over her shoulders and onto her back, accentuating her graceful posture.

With calm focus, she grips a wooden pestle, her hands and forearms rendered with confident, expressive brushstrokes. The large Harees pot before her, punctuated with circular design, captures light through rich blues and silvers, grounding the composition. Behind her, the background comes alive with a textured wall, ochres, and earthy browns, painted in thick, acrylic layers that create movement and depth.

Style and Technique:

Executed in a palette-knife impressionist style, the painting is rich with tactile texture and dynamic color interplay. Each stroke carries emotional resonance, thick, deliberate, and luminous. The contrast between the warm background and the cooler blue tones in the pot and shadows adds visual rhythm and harmony. The brushwork emphasizes the dignity and timelessness of manual labor within traditional Bahraini life.

Symbolism and Themes:

• Cultural Identity: The scene immortalizes a moment of daily Gulf tradition, celebrating women’s roles in preserving culinary and communal heritage.
• Strength and Serenity: The woman’s downward gaze and composed expression evoke quiet resilience and devotion.
• Warm Palette: The dominance of reds, oranges, and golds symbolizes nourishment, love, and the comfort of home.
• Tradition and Continuity: The act of preparing Harees connects generations, reflecting memory, ritual, and belonging.

Emotional Tone:

“Harees” feels both intimate and monumental. It captures the tender dignity of a woman immersed in a familiar rhythm of life. Through light, color, and texture, the painting transforms a humble domestic act into a celebration of cultural pride, womanhood, and warmth.

Materials used:

Thick Acrylic on canvas

Artwork size:
70×70×4 cm