Human Fallibility by Jennie Hart

He had just begun a portrait of the Earl of Balfour. Never finished. Obviously. Well actually, not even begun.

(Note: First line of this story taken from tenth line of the tenth page of the novel by Kate Atkinson, ‘Life after Life’)

Khaled Nassar had been given permission by the National Portrait Gallery to copy the portrait of Lord Arthur Balfour by John Singer Sargent. Khaled’s patron was a descendant of Arthur Balfour so there was no problem in receiving the go ahead, but now Khaled knew he could not continue. How could he bear to look at this portrait for days on end knowing what misery this man had caused, even up to the current year. But how could he tell the Balfour descendant the reasons for his withdrawal?

Donald Trump’s announcement of a surprise deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates contributed to Khaled’s decision. The current Palestinian President, Mamoud Abbas, denounced this treaty asking where the Palestinian people were when this deal was made? The president, claimed it would never stop Palestinian families being driven from their homes in the West Bank.

Khaled’s head was in a turmoil. Israeli settlements on the West bank and demolition of Arab homes in East Jerusalem caused constant pain for his people. His mother had lived through years of misery when there had been no regard for human rights and the situation was worsening. He knew his mother’s mental condition was poor and she only slept with large doses of sleeping pills. Medicines were scarce and often unavailable. Khaled had not visited her for two years, always in fear of being prevented from returning to England, his country of choice. His younger brother had been injured during a demonstration in Gaza and could only walk with the aid of a stick. It made Khaled very sad but also very angry.

He had no idea that agreeing to paint this portrait would stir up such emotions. He spent the first day at the gallery setting up his easel and studying the masterpiece. This was without doubt, the most prestigious commission he had ever received. That evening he returned to the apartment he shared with his partner Juan, a Mexican musician; or more precisely, an American musician of Mexican descent. He knew Juan would listen but would be amused that Khaled could allow the past to interfere with the present and affect his livelihood. Juan’s family were Catholics but Juan himself was of no faith considering God to be man’s invention. He would have little sympathy for Khaled’s plight.

‘Just suppose’ began Khaled, ‘That your mother still lived in Mexico city and you couldn’t get to see her because of Trump’s wall. How would you feel?’

‘Oh man, it ain’t never gonna happen, that wall!’

‘That’s not the point, your family are US citizens now and safe but just suppose…’

‘Listen man, you need to make some cash; we got this rent to pay and if you gonna get freaked out over every portrait you get to paint, we gonna be out on the streets’

 

Khaled continued to prepare his materials, choosing the oils he would need to recreate the sombre colours dominating the portrait. He must also match the soft delicate shades of the carpet on which Balfour was standing. He knew this commission was a gift and he was a fool to be swayed by his principles.

 The minute he got home, Khaled had set up his laptop and googled Lord Balfour. Not being familiar with the workings of the British aristocracy, he was curious to find that there was a Lord Roderick Francis Arthur Balfour alive today. This current Lord Balfour had a daughter, a celebrity in the art and media world in her own right.

‘Similar age to me I guess’, mused Khaled.

The subject of the National Portrait gallery painting was Arthur James Balfour the first Earl of Balfour born in 1848. First he was Prime Minister, then Foreign Secretary and also, being an aristocrat, a Peer of the Realm. Khaled was not sure what that meant but he was used to being confused by Britain’s hierarchy.

Khaled didn’t follow politics; unlike his two brothers. He was an aesthete, an artist, a young man who longed for the world to be a beautiful place where all would be fair and every one might live in harmony. He knew he was an idealist but dreams kept him alive and gave him aspirations.

A powerful remark attributed to Arthur Balfour struck him as profound. It was a statement which said:

 ‘Nothing matters very much and few things matter at all’.

Did Lord Balfour believe that? He repeated it to Juan who considered the remark then described it as nihilistic and verging on hopeless. Meanwhile Juan strummed a soulful and mesmerising tune on his treasured Spanish guitar. He was an accomplished player.

Was Khaled going to uncover that this Balfour was a man endowed with power but lacking empathy with fellow human beings? Reading further, he learnt that this particular aristocrat when Foreign secretary was responsible for an agreement that had had a devastating effect on the Middle East. It was ‘The Balfour Declaration’, and he learned that this declaration continued to exert its power today

As Khaled investigated further his anger began to mount.

‘Stop playing for a minute and listen to this,’ he said to Juan.

 ‘The Balfour Declaration of 1917,was a public pledge by Britain, declaring its aim to establish “a national home for the Jewish people. The pledge is generally viewed as one of the main catalysts of the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in 1948 and the creation of the Zionist state of Israel”. ‘

‘So what man? It’s all a long time ago. Come and chill out and relax a little.’

Khaled knew this could not possibly be all of the story and of course, there were many links he could follow. Who was this Lord Balfour? What kind of character was he? Did he single handedly bring about the Balfour Declaration? One article told him that through the declaration, Britain became the imperial sponsor of a Jewish state. A Jewish national home was to be established in Palestine by expelling the indigenous people en masse. There was apparently an assurance in the document about protecting Palestinian rights that proved worthless. Balfour it seemed, went along with this.

‘Juan, Juan, hold off that beautiful tune and listen to this:  ‘In 1919, Lord Arthur Balfour argued that “Zionist aspirations were of far profounder import than the desires and prejudices of the few hundred thousand Arabs who now inhabit that ancient land”’

‘But man, you are getting holed up in the past; all that has gone now. Look to the present, my Sugar man. Just do what you can do today.’

‘But don’t you see? The plight of my mum and my brothers is caused by Balfour’s racism one hundred years ago. How can I stand for that?’

‘But Honey man, how do you know he was a racist and not just a kinda puppet of that crazy government?’

‘Because. Listen to this. Tell me if you want more proof: “In Ireland, he introduced an Irish Crimes Act and thousands were jailed. When he was Prime Minister he insisted that in South Africa, Europeans must enjoy greater privileges than the Black natives, saying later that Black people were “less intellectually and morally capable than whites”. “Men are not born equal,” he said’

‘Times never change my boy. Got no faith in our smart politic boys today. Set fire to their own mama given the chance’

‘ Last thing and I’ll read no more. Listen: “He was a callous man and tried to justify the use of Chinese slave labour in South Africa’s gold mines and he opposed giving aid to people at risk of famine in India”. What else was this guy but a heartless murderer?’

Khaled was exhausted. He sighed and held his head down. ‘Have you heard of the Nakba? I knew about this from school and from my baba. In 1948, during the Palestinian war, hundreds of villages were burnt down and 700,000 Palestinians fled from their homes and went to refugee camps and millions are still there today. That includes my family. My brothers. My mum. You know my baba died? Poor health and depression. He saw no future for his sons. That was the Nakba’

 Juan sat up straight now, focusing intently on Khaled, ‘This ain’t no good man. You gotta decide. This is your life and you only got one o’ them. How ya gonna live it? Are we gonna have a great life together or are you gonna die of depression like your poor papa?’ 

Juan continued. ‘You’ve struck a nerve in me man. I see where you are coming from but you have left out one thing. Human Fallibility. If you are going to commit to an ideology you are gonna have to forget the human within.’

‘This Balfour dude; what do we really know about him? Was he loved by his mama? Was he bullied at school? Was he beaten by his papa? All these things that make a man, we know nothing about. Maybe all his growing up he was crushed. We don’t know and maybe never will. Have you heard the phrase “The sins of the fathers are visited on the sons”. Who was his papa? Did he treat him bad? Are Balfour’s sins gonna ruin your life? Take a break man; stand back. Don’t do this damned painting  but try to let go of this damned hate. You’re a fabulous guy and it doesn’t fit. Help your mama, support the causes, but today is today, yesterday is gone. Just let go.’

Khaled felt calmer. He knew Juan would talk him through. He always made great sense; it was that immense and powerful musical spirit. Now it was bonding with his own special creative spirit.

He poured a glass of wine and passed it to Juan then poured another for himself. No, he wouldn’t do the painting, but yes, he would let go.

 first published August 2020