Sarokhan, vienna 1923.
Born in 1898 in Armenia, Alexander Sarokhan fled to Egypt in 1924. He met Muhammad Al-Tab’ai who gave him the chance of a lifetime. Sarokhan worked as a cartoonist in "Rose Al-Youssef" magazine. He created the character of Al-Masri Effendi which was his passport to success. When Al-Tab’ai left "Rose Al-Youssef" to "Akhbar Al-Youm" newspaper, Sarokhan followed. His cartoons were also published in several magazines such as "Al-Mustaqbal" (The Future), "Automobile", "The Sphinx", "Al-Kashkul" (The Album), "Sada Al-Sharq" (Echo of the East), "Al-Sarkha" (The Clamor) and "Al-Watania" (Patriotism).
The 1952 Revolution was a turning point in his artistic career. Before the revolution, Sarokhan’s cartoons highlighted party maneuvers, corruption, and parties’ conflict with the British occupation over power. After it, Sarokhan’s main cartoon character became an optimistic belle symbolizing Egypt.
Sarokhan with President Muhammad Naguib, 1952
Saroukhan,
Pioneer of Political Cartooning in Egypt
(1898-1977)
Egypt has been always a safe refuge for many artists, writers, who fled injustice and persecution at home to the warm hospitality and tolerance in Egypt. Alexander Saroukhan was a talented cartoonist who emigrated from his homeland; Armenia, and later settled in Egypt, where he ended up as a pioneer of political cartooning.
Birth and Career
Born in Battom, Armenia in 1898, Alexander Saroukhan received his elementary education at Russian schools, then immigrated with his family to Turkey then to Athens and Vienna, where he graduated from the School of Fine Arts.
In 1924 he settled in Egypt, where he founded together with Abdel Qader Al-Shinnawi "The Pictorial Newspaper", which published only two issues.
A year later, he worked as a drawing teacher at the Armenian School at Bullaq, Cairo. He became famous within the Armenian community as a cartoonist.
"Al-Masri Effendi", Sarokhan's Creation
Saroukhan was only a new-comer to Egypt, with little or no knowledge about Egyptian political life or figures, when he met prominent journalist Mohammed Al-Tabi'ye at Rose El-Youssef magazine. Together they created the cartoon-figure of Al Masri-Effendi; a kind-hearted, intelligent, generous and serious fellow symbolising the traits of Egyptian character. This figure was widely used to express his opinion on various political events. Saroukhan's unique cartooning style has widely influenced most cartoonists in Egypt. His creations were an inspiration for many other stereotypical characters, such as "Ibn El-Balad, Al-Fallah"; etc …
He had an exceptional talent for expressing spiritual feelings through light and shadow, as well as intangible features such as intelligence, foolishness, power, weakness, cunning etc.....
Saroukhan was influenced by British Lowe and Cummings, American, Morris and Russian Yulmov. He mastered seven languages: English, French, Russian, German, Arabic and Turkish, besides his mother tongue; Armenian.
Saroukhan worked for almost all Egyptian newspapers, including Rose El-Youssef, Al-Akhbar, Akher Sa'ah, Al-Gomhouria and Le Progress Egyptien.
Recognition
He was granted Egyptian nationality on October 20, 1954.
On October 27, 1966, he won the American Middle East Broadcasting Corporation Silver Medal in its contest entitled "Cartoons in the Service of Peace".
In 1968, he held an exhibition for his cartoons over 25 years of his life in Egypt.
In 1975, Egyptian cartoonists celebrated the 50th anniversary of his life in Egypt.
In 1985, his family published an album of his cartoons.
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