early life and education mahmoud said bey, an alexandrian judge and modern painter, was born in alexandria, egypt in 1897 to muhammad said pasha, a turkish former prime minister of egypt. he received his high school diploma and went on to law school, receiving his degree in 1919. artistic pursuits between 1919 and 1921, bey travelled through europe and studied at the académie julian. this exposure to european art influenced his style, which would later become a unique blend of traditional egyptian motifs and modern techniques. he often shared a studio with his friend, the greek painter aristo…