Libyan Sea 

Periklis Vyzantios created this painting of the Libyan Sea with oil on canvas. Vyzantios had a relatively short career, beginning in the 1920s and lasting until his death in 1972. The most striking aspect of the painting is the way the material—oil paint—has been handled. Rather than applying the pigment in a dense, opaque manner, the artist diluted the colors to achieve a thin, almost translucent effect. This is especially noticeable in the sky, where the different layers of paint create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The visible brushstrokes also give the painting a sense of movement, as if the wind is constantly shifting the clouds and the sea. This kind of landscape painting has a long tradition, but Vyzantios offers something unique in his painterly treatment of the seascape. By emphasizing the materiality of the paint, he invites us to consider the relationship between the medium and the subject matter, and to appreciate the skill and labor involved in creating such a delicate and evocative image.