Spyros Vasiliou (1902-1985)

Spyros Vassiliou (1902-1985) was the most popular artist working in the direction of a Greek Style in painting. A student of Nikolas Lytras at the Athens School of the Arts with an indirect apprenticeship in Baroque and Flemish art with F. Kontoglou and D. Galanis he turns from an early stage towards the description of the familiar, the close ant hand, the specific, remolding them with lyrical realism. His world had \already been formed during the 30’s, and enriched during the 40’s by the experiences gained during the occupation 9a period which provided us with many engravings with national themes), developing itself still further during successive decades. The three works contained in the Municipal Gallery of Rhodes are especially representative of his art. The First Monday of Lent is surely one of his ouvre’s best. At this, as well as at Monastiraki, both done in early 50’s, we can see the artist’s love for simple, everyday things, for objects which express a world which is in the process of disappearing, and for whatever is at first sight insignificant. The traditional food on the table and objects in junk shops acquire a symbolic meaning inspite of their humility and their simplicity. From another angle, his relationship with Byzantine (cylindrical forms) as well as Baroque art (genre subjects) is obvious in his work.
S. Vassiliou was the first artist who took art depicting traditions and customs out of the landscape and into the urban environment, to Athens, which during these decades is constantly changing. it has been said that he produced art resembling pop art well before the middle of the 1950’s when it appeared in England. His treatment of everyday life has a lyrical, tranquil quality about it.

copyright 1996-97