Modern Greek art

Modern Greek Art is the term used to describe Greek art during the period between the emergence of the new independent Greek state and the 20th century. Mainland Greece being under the Ottoman rule for almost 4 centuries has naturally missed the Renaissance and the artistic movements that followed, in Western Europe. However, Greek islands such as Crete, and the Ionian islands in particular were for large periods under Venetian or other European powers' rule and thus, were able to assimilate better the radical artistic changes that were occurring in Europe during the 14th-18th century. The Cretan School and in particular the Heptanese Schools of art are two typical examples of artistic movements in Greece that followed parallel routes to Western Europe [1]. There were therefore different artistic trends in the emerging Greek society. It is reasonable to claim that it was the particular socioeconomic conditions of Greece, the large Greek diaspora across Europe, the new Greek social elite and the artistic influences of mainly Germany and France that shaped to a large extend what we call Art in Modern Greece.

Sculpture and Painting
19th century
The School of Munich
Modern Greek Art coincided with Romanticism. Greek artists absorbed many elements from their European colleagues resulting to the culmination of the distinctive style of Greek Romanticist art which was inspired by revolutionary ideals as well as the geography and History of the country. After centuries of Ottoman rule though, few opportunities existed in Greece itself, immediately after independence, so studying abroad was imperative for artists. Munich,was an important international center for the arts and is the place where the majority of the Greek artists of 19th century have chosen to study. Later on, they would return back to Greece, where they would transmit their experience. Some of them remained in Munich, the so called Athens on the Isar. Both academic and personal bonds developed between early Greek painters and Munich artistry giving birth to the Greek "Munich School" of painting. Nikolaos Gysis was an important teacher and artist at the Munich Academy and he soon became a leading figure among Greek artists. Academism, realism, genre painting, upper middle class portraiture, still life and landscape painting, often representing impressionist features, will be replaced in the end of 19th century by symbolism, Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, which are mainly traced in the work of Nikolaos Gysis, Aristeas and others. Early 20th century modernism is also represented by significant Greek artists in Munich. Many of these Munich School artists were drawing their subjects by everyday Greek life, local customs, and living conditions. Several important painters emerge at this time. Theodoros Vryzakis specialized in historical painting and especially inspired by the 1821 Greek War of Independence. Nikiphoros Lytras concentrated on realistic depictions of Greek life. Georgios Jakobides devoted his attention to infants and children and he later he would become the first curator of the new National Gallery of Athens. Konstantinos Volanakis was inspired mostly by the Greek sea. Other notable artists that belonged to the School of Munich were Symeon Sabbides, Gianoulis Chalepas, as well as quite a few modernist artists who studied in Munich, among which were Theofrastos Triantafyllidis, Jorgos Busianis, and also Giorgio de Chirico.

The School of Paris
A few Greek painters studied in Paris, rather than Munich. Residing in the French capital, and despite following the guide-lines of the French Art Academy, gave their own interpretation to the perception of things. Jacob Rizos was involved with the rendering of female grace, Theodoros Rallis with scenes from the Orthodox East and Nikolaos Xydias Typaldos with portraiture, still life and genre painting. During this period in Paris the avant garde Impressionist movement developed, but most Greek painters remained faithful to the precepts of their teachers with only some nebulous thrusts in the direction of this movement. The first Greek impressionist was Pericles Pantazis who, after Paris, settled in Belgium and became a part of the avant-garde group Circle de la pâte.

Themes-artistic depictions
Many Greek artists of this period also drew upon El Greco's style for inspiration, particularly when creating art based on religious themes. This tied in with the idea of modern secular Greek art of the period referencing more classical styles, while religious art referenced Byzantine, or Byzantine inspired art. Moreover, an important and often pioneering role was played by artists from Ionian islands in the century and the beginning of the 19th century, who exploited conquests of the Italian Renaissance and baroque ateliers. As efforts persisted with new directions and objectives, Greek artists emerging in the world during the first decades of the 19th century reconnected Greek art with its ancient tradition, as well as with the quests of the European ateliers, especially those of the Munich School, with defining examples of the Greek contemporary art of the period including the works of Theodoros Vryzakis and Nikiphoros Lytras.

20th century
At the beginning of the 20th century landscape painting held sway and the interest of painters turned toward the study of light and color. The dependence ïn Munich stackened and Paris became the pole of attraction for the artists of the period. In the early twentieth century Demetrios Galanis, a contemporary and friend of Picasso, achieved wide recognition in France and lifelong membership of the Academie Francaise following his acclaim by the critic Andre Malreaux as an artist capable "of stirring emotions as powerful as those of Giotto". Later in the century Nikos Engonopoulos achieved international recognition with his surrealist conceptions both of painting and poetry, while in the late 1960s Dimitris Mytaras and Yiannis Psychopedis became associated with European critical realism. Impressionism was the original influence ïn the leading figures of the art of the first half of the 20th century, Konstantinos Parthenis and Konstantinos Maleas, while Nikiphoros Lytras associated himself with the avant-garde groups of Munich constituting the last known link with the series of painters in the great tradition of Munich in Greek art . The further development of these painters led to other roads, but always within the framework of the avantgarde movement albeit with a Greek dimension.

Gradually the impressionists and other modern schools increased their influence. In the early 20th century Greek artists turned from Munich to Paris. The interest of Greek painters, artists changes from historical representations to Greek landscapes with an emphasis on light and colours so abundant in Greece. Representatives of this artistic change are Konstantinos Parthenis, Konstantinos Maleas, Nikiphoros Lytras and Georgios Bouzianis. Konstantinos Parthenis, in particular, introduces historical, religious and mythological elements that allow the classification of Greek painting into modern art. The same is true with the landscapes of Konstantinos Maleas and the expressionism of Georgios Bouzianis. The period of 1930’s was a landmark for the Greek painters, with Yiannis Tsarouchis, Yiannis Moralis, Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas, Spyros Vassileiou, Alekos Kontopoulos (introduced abstraction in Greek paintings) and Spyros Papaloukas coming into the limelight of Greek Art. These painters tried mainly to link leading European trends with Greek tradition.