Πυργί

001138 Nikos Yialouris, Pyrgi, Chios, 1961, mixed media on paper, 74 × 82 cm

Pyrgi is one of the most renowned and iconic villages of Chios, celebrated for its medieval architecture and, above all, its unique black-and-white geometric decorations (sgraffiti) that adorn the façades of the houses—an art form found nowhere else in Greece. Yialouris depicted Pyrgi throughout his artistic career in drawings, paintings, and prints: at times focusing on its picturesque charm, and at others on its distinctive architectural form. In this early work, he seems captivated by the graphic nature of the subject. He paints a narrow alley where two stone arches (doxarades) span across and connect the houses on either side. With bold black lines, he outlines the buildings, while shadows, half-open windows, and door frames are painted in black ink as well. A clean, light blue is used to fill the sky, creating a strong contrast with the white of the buildings. What primarily interests the artist, however, is capturing the abstract, geometric ornamentation of the walls. Using gray tones and a few touches of pale green, with a relatively realistic yet rhythmic approach to line, Yialouris transforms the composition into a playful alternation of shapes and patterns. He conveys through his painting the vivid impression made on him by the village.