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Konstantinos Volanakis
Outside the harbour
1870-1872
oil on canvas
48 x 95 cm
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One of Volanakis’ paintings with the largest number of impressionistic influences. Impressions of an instantaneous and constantly changing visual perspective prevail in the entire scene and in all the individual pictorial references. The transparent waters with their gentle ripples seem to pulsate rhythmically, the boats moving and the foliage rustling in the wind. The brushstrokes are dynamic, disorderly and broad, the outlines rudimentary, the detailed description kept to a minimum, the design’s precision has subsided and only the equipment of a few sailboats has been rendered in detail.

The theme is a seascape with small and large sailboats, some sailing, some anchored offshore and others moored in an anchorage. At the same time, simple everyday scenes are taking place: a fisherman fishing with his rod, two others conversing on the seashore, and a boatman rowing a boat with two women. In the background, the coastal area is filled with large trees and tile-roofed buildings that jut out between them.

Bibliography


Marilena Z. Kassimati (curator), Constantinos Volanakis: Poet of the Sea, exhibition catalogue, Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, Hellenic Maritime Museum, Athens 2009, pp. 116-117, 182 (1872).

Takis Mavrotas (curator), Constantinos Volanakis: The Father of Greek Seascape Painting, exhibition catalogue, B&M Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts, Athens 2018, pp. 62-63.

Thodoris Koutsogiannis (curator), Constantinos Volanakis: Nostos of the Sea. Artworks from the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation collection, exhibition catalogue, Municipal Art Gallery of Chania, pp. 120-121.

Sotheby’s / London, The Greek Sale, 22/05/2006.

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