Virgin with Divine Infant - Crucifixion 1942

Konstantinos Parthenis created this painting, "Virgin with Divine Infant - Crucifixion," using what looks like very thinned paint to make big ghostly shapes. I can almost feel Parthenis in his studio, grappling with this massive canvas, layering these figures like faded memories, or dreams. This color palette is so soft, almost monochromatic – a hushed mix of blues and creams. Did you notice how the brushstrokes create a sense of depth, pulling us into the scene? The more I look, the more I see Parthenis in conversation with other painters. There's a nod to the Byzantine tradition, sure, but also something modern, something searching. This feels like an artist pushing against the boundaries of representation, trying to capture something beyond the surface. The surface becomes like a threshold to something deeper. Isn’t it interesting how artists keep riffing off each other, borrowing and transforming ideas across time? It is this constant exchange that keeps art alive, always questioning, always evolving.