Khalil Gibran

Gibran Khalil Gibran (Arabic: ????? ???? ????? ) (January 6 1883 – April 10 1931) was a Lebanese poet, artist and Maronite Christian. His poetry is notable for its use of formal language and insights on topics of life using spiritual terms. He studied art in Boston, and French and Arabic in Lebanon.

Cultural Growth and Works

Gibran's curiosity led him to the cultural side of Boston, which exposed him to the rich world of the theatre, Opera and artistic galleries. Prodded by the cultural scenes around him and through his artistic drawings, Gibran caught the attention of his teachers at the public school, who saw an artistic future for the boy. They contacted Fred Holland Day, an artist, photographer and a supporter of artists who opened up Gibran's cultural world and set him on the road to artistic fame.

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In 1904 Gibran had his first art exhibition in Boston. From 1908 to 1910 he studied art in Paris with Auguste Rodin. In 1912 he settled in New York, where he devoted himself to writing and painting. Gibran's early works were written in Arabic, and from 1918 he published mostly in English. Among his best-known works is The Prophet, a book of 26 poetic essays: which has been translated into over 20 languages. Juliet Thompson, one of Khalil Gibran's acquaintances, is quoted on saying that Gibran told her that he thought of `Abdu'l-Bahá, the divine leader of the Baha'i Faith after the death of its founder, all the way through writing The Prophet.

Related Topics:
Boston - 1908 - 1910 - Paris - Auguste Rodin - 1912 - New York - Arabic - 1918 - The Prophet - `Abdu'l-Bahá

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In 1920 he founded a society for Arab writers, The Pen League (al-Mahgar). Among its members were Mikha'il Na'ima (1889 – 1988), Iliya Abu Madi (1889 – 1957), Nasib Arida (1887 – 1946), Nadra Haddad (1881 – 1950), and Ilyas Abu Shabaka (1903 – 47).

Related Topics:
1920 - The Pen League - Mikha'il Na'ima - Iliya Abu Madi - Nasib Arida - Nadra Haddad - Ilyas Abu Shabaka

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