Πιτυός

004624 Frixos Aristefs, Pityos, 1936, oil on canvas, 50 × 66 cm

The painter vividly describes in his Autobiography how he traveled around Chios in 1923 and 1936: “I traveled accompanied by two mules. […] Many times, I compared myself to some kind of conqueror whose weapon was an easel—and indeed, with its enormous nails, it resembled Don Quixote’s lance… And to complete the image, the muleteer beside me stood in for Sancho Panza, and we looked as though we were heading off against the windmills we encountered at every turn.” Supporting this description, a windmill can be seen in the panoramic view of the village of Pityos. The composition opens in the foreground with the foliage of trees, which in turn gives way to the solid, geometric volumes of the houses with their red roofs. The large medieval tower (dated on the 14th century) on the right and the smaller windmill on the left crown the village houses that unfold around the low hill. In the background, Mount Pelinaion can be seen, which dominates the landscape of northern Chios. Despite his need to work quickly (due to time constraints), in Pityos Aristefs faithfully captured the traditional architecture. At the same time, he paid great attention to the summer light by choosing bright colors for the roofs, the foliage, and the mountain.