Yannis Spyropoulos

Early works by Spyropoulos are rare and the present painting is one of the most important works by the artist from the 1940s to appear at auction. 

After two years in Paris, Spyropoulos returned to Greece. The following decade was a period of stylistic experimentation for the artist, where unmistakable continental influences can be traced. The present work is almost certainly from the early 1940s – Spyropoulos' oeuvre from this period shows an interest in landscapes and still lives in the style of Cézanne. The interest in breaking down forms observed in nature into simple, geometric shapes was a crucial step towards the abstract style that was fully developed by the artist in the 1950s – the present work thus represents an important cornerstone in the work of Spyropoulos.

One of the most commercial views in Greek landscape painting, the Piraeus harbour is the largest passenger port in Europe and the third largest world-wide. This early and rare work highlights the bustling nature of this teeming commercial centre, held within the Athens urban sprawl, while imparting an atmosphere of ominous stillness and tense emotionality.