Substance and Shadow 1938

In this painting, Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas used a muted palette of browns, grays, and blacks to depict a scene of shadowed figures and ancient artifacts, probably with oil. I imagine the act of painting as a journey of discovery for Nikos, with each layer revealing new possibilities. I wonder what the artist was thinking as he moved between these flat shapes? It's almost like he's thinking through form and space, building a world from shadows and substance. The silhouettes of the human forms are like absences, making you consider what it means to be present or absent, visible or hidden. The patterned surface under the artifacts is really fun, and it makes me think about the relationship between decoration and depth. Nikos shares that surface sensibility with other painters like Milton Avery, or even Morandi. Ultimately, paintings are conversations between artists across time. Nikos's work invites us to explore how we see, think, and experience the world through the language of painting. It leaves so much open and undefined, like a space for imagination.