NIKOLAUS GYSIS | ARACHNE

Private collection, Athens

Athens, Theokarakis Foundation, 'Nikolaus Gysis', 2012-13, illustrated in the catalogue

Nelly Missirli, Gysis, Athens, 1996, p. 226, no. 172, catalogued & illustrated, p. 378, no. 172, listed

Executed in 1884, the present work depicts Arachne, a young woman who, according to an ancient Greek myth, challenged the goddess Athena to a weaving contest. In case of defeat, Arachne promised she would willingly forfeit all and let Athena decide her fate. When both contestants had completed their work, Athena was unable to find a flaw in the undeniably skillful tapestry Arachne had woven. She was, however, enraged by the content of the work, for Arachne had chosen to illustrate the stories and corruption of the wicked Gods. Athena tore the work to pieces and struck the girl repeatedly until, overcome with despair, Arachne hung herself from a beam. Moved by compassion, Athena brought her back to life but fated her to weave forever in the new form of a spider.

In addition to the present work, Gysis completed one other known drawing and one oil of the same subject, both dated 1884. Though the works differ greatly, the expression replicated in all three is a focal point of each work. With magnetic and somewhat daring eyes, Arachne glances outside the scope of the work, awaiting her imminent punishment. Though her bare limbs are elegantly and delicately depicted, they are imbued with a sense of insect-like rigidity as she raises her arms to hold up her completed work which foreshadows her transformation into a spider. Her immobile limbs stand in stark contrast to her eyes which are filled with emotion and movement.

Exhibited: Athens, Theokarakis Foundation, Nikolaus Gysis, 2012-13, illustrated in the catalogue