The Short Century

Le Gardien de la Vie - Hamed Ewais, 1967-1968
"Historical periods are not defined by calendar dates, but by significant events that mark the end of one era and the beginning of the next. The 20th Century is 'The Short Century,' a term popularised by the historian Eric Hobsbawm for an era that saw many of the most dramatic and extreme shifts in human history. This era was witness to the most violent wars, the largest human migrations, the rapid expansion of cities (now the largest centres of human life), the dominance of mechanised industry, and the rapid rise, conflict, and collapse of expansive ideologies that underpinned them. ... Each end demarcates stark shifts in politics, society, and cultural production. ..."
Barjeel Art Foundation
Arab art chronicles of the 20th century