Nikos Engonopoulos

Acquired from the artist by the present owner in 1980

Athens, Société d'études de l'école Moraïtis, 1976, no. 20
Athens, National Gallery & Alexandra Soutros Museum, Engonopoulos, 1983, no. 33

Tachydromos, LII, 1976, p. 53, illustrated
Ta Néa, 17 February 1979, illustrated
Abatzopoulou, 1980, illustrated on the cover
Thessaloniki, 3 January 1980, illustrated
I Avgi, 20 March 1981, illustrated
I Kathimerini, 21 March 1981, illustrated
Tachydromos, 16 April 1981, p. 123, illustrated
Thessaloniki, 1 November 1980, illustrated
I Avgi, 1 January 1986, illustrated
In the Valley of the Roseraies, 1992, p. 135, illustrated
I Kathimerini, 17 November 1996, p. 20, illustrated
I Kathimerini, 'Hommage to Nikos Engonopoulos', 25 May 1997, p. 4, illustrated
Metro, April 2000, illustrated
I Kathimerini, 17 February 2002, illustrated
Katerina Perpinioti-Agazir, Nikos Engonopoulos, son univers pictural, Athens, 2007, pp. 294 & 454, no. 552, catalogued & illustrated

The canvas is unlined. There is a tiny spot of paint flaking in the façade of the building near the left edge (visible in the catalogue illustration). Ultra-violet light reveals no visible signs of retouching. This painting is in good original condition, and its appearance could be further enhanced with a light surface clean if desired. Presented in a decorative gilt frame. The colours in the catalogue are reasonably accurate, however the blues are slightly lighter in reality, the colours are somewhat deeper, and there is less of an orange tone overall.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Engonopoulos is best known as a pioneer of Surrealism in Greek painting and literature. He was especially interested in the work of Georgio de Chirico. In his imagery, the association of reality and myth, classical and modern, embodies the preoccupations of modern Greece through the subconscious. As Niki Loizidi notes, 'Engonopoulos gave [Greece] one version of surrealism, universal, but at the same time deeply rooted in Greekness' (Niki Loizidi, cited in Kambouridis and Levounis, p. 116).