Μετέωρα

000514 Nikos Yialouris, Meteora, 1981, linoleum cut, 63 × 88 cm

Nikos Yialouris visited Meteora in the early 1980s. Fascinated by the landscape, he made a series of paintings and prints, one of the few (along with Hydra) that were not inspired by Chios and its surrounding islands. The special landscape of Meteora and its combination with the monastic life, triggered the interest of several Greek artists during the 20th century. For example, several works by Yannis Mitarakis from the Chios Municipal Gallery's collection are also inspired by Meteora.

This particular engraving by Yialouris depicts the Monastery of Varlaam from a relatively close distance. However, the artist's interest is focused on the natural rock rather than the historical buildings at its summit—Yialouris does not ignore the buildings, but clearly gives them a secondary role in the composition. A typical example of his printmaking production, the print stands out for its balanced play of black and white, done in graphic terms. The composition develops lengthwise, while the drawing, with its hard line, distortions and emphasis on geometric rigour, reflect the influence of Cubism and reveals Yialouris's ongoing dialogue with European Modernism.

Bibliography: Manolis Vlachos, Nikos Yialouris. Drawings and Prints, Athens, 2010, p. 214