Nikos Engonopoulos(1910-1985)

He was a pupil of Parthenis and Kontoglou, and one of the first exponents of surrealism in Greece. In The Oath the contribution of metaphysical painting of De Cirico is parent in the composition of the work, as is a certain degree of classic style. The main feature of Engonopoulos’ work is that the symbols he uses are not only details taken from his own sub-conscious mind, according to the model of the Mediterranean surrealists, but mainly symbols from history and the civilizations which developed here and abroad. The totally unexpected juxtaposition of the habit with the military uniform together with the ax and the Minoan figures, hint in a dreamy fashion at the basic composition which everything can acquire in our minds.

copyright 1996-97