<Bou-Saâda>

This urban landscape, inspired by Cubism, of which Valensi was a leading exponent before 1914, is part of a series dedicated to the Algerian city of Bou-Saâda. Blurred by various visual effects, the motif, a narrow alleyway seen from a central perspective, is difficult to recognise at first glance. At the height of the roof terraces of the buildings that line the street, almost translucent arcades intersect with the sun’s rays. In this painting, the concepts of space and time are embodied by the alternation and division of light and shadow.