Giorgios Gounaropoulos

Giorgios Gounaropoulos ( Greek Γιώργος Γουναρόπουλος , born March 22, 1890 in Sozopol ; † August 17, 1977 in Athens ) was an important Greek painter . His stage name was "Gounaro".

Biography and works

Gounaropoulos was born in 1890 in the Black Sea city of Sozopol, which then belonged to the Ottoman Empire and is now in Bulgaria . In 1906 he went to Athens to become a decorator. But he quickly changed his original goal to dedicate himself to painting. Gounaropoulos began studying painting in Athens. His Impressionist works won first prizes while he was still a student.

In 1919 he went to France on a scholarship . In Paris he took lessons at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière . During this time he took part in every official exhibition of the academy with his works, which had since distanced themselves from impressionism. His pictures and his unconventional painting style, which cannot be assigned to any of the styles of painting of the time, quickly won the admiration of the French public.

In 1931 Gounaropoulos returned to Greece. From then on, his pictures were shown in numerous solo exhibitions as well as in Panhellenic and international art exhibitions. During this time he also became known and recognized in Greece. Although his pictures are now considered milestones in Greek painting, Gounaropoulos was initially accused of ignoring the basic rules of painting because of his peculiar artistic expression.

Gounaropoulos also painted portraits and murals. One of his most important works of art is a 113 m² mural in the City Hall of Athens, created in 1939, which depicts scenes from the city's history. Two years before his death, he donated 15 of his works to the National Gallery of Greece as an exemplary representation of his sixty years of artistic activity. Gounaropoulos died in Athens in 1977.

The house of Gounaropoulos in the Athens district of Zographou is now a museum with pictures and personal items of the artist. The most important exhibits in the museum include a self-portrait by Gounaropoulos and the work “Figure on Rock”. In the Museum of Modern Greek Art (MGA) in Rhodes the works “Portrait of Cybele ”, “Archaic Figures” and “Synthesis” can be seen. Further works by the artist can be found in international museums and in private collections.

In Athens there is a cultural association called “G. Gounaro ”, which organizes exhibitions by Greek and international artists, as well as lectures and other cultural events.

Quote

“The purpose of my painting is to liberate people through the painting itself, and not through the subject.” Giorgios Gounaropoulos.

literature

• Matoula Skaltsa: Gounaropoulos. Pneumatiko Kentro Dimou Athinaion, Athina 1990. (Greek)

Web links

• Biography of the art gallery Rhodes and illustration of one of his works
• Illustration of works on eikastikon
• Articles and images of works by the cultural association “G.Gounaro” (Πολιτιστικό Κέντρο “G.Gounaro”)

Individual evidence

1. ^ The Modern Greek Art Museum collections , accessed April 15, 2013.