Τοπίο

000788 Nikos Yialouris, Landscape, 1969, pastel on paper, 50 × 64 cm

During the 1960s and 1970s, Yialouris focused primarily on landscape painting—especially that of his native island, Chios. He depicted not only the villages, but also less picturesque aspects, such as the barren, rocky hillsides of the northern region, with spare trees. These works—among the most captivating series in his artistic production—are characterized by an expressionistic quality, especially in the use of colour, by cubist stylization in drawing, and by an overall simplicity of form. Working with the vibrant tones of pastel and combining the harsh drawing with colours, the painter was primarily interested in the emotional force emanating from the depicted landscape. He painted life’s tenacity—its determination to take root even in the most inhospitable terrains. In the present composition—typical of the series—a hillside is depicted. The composition is built based on the contrast of warm red and cold blue. The multiple planes of the rock are painted in shades of red, while the areas between them are in blue. The sky is treated more gently, with light yellows and whites, and the few lentisk trees are painted in light blue—and, in one case, in pink.