Yiannis Tsarouchis (Greek, 1910-1989) The engagement signed in Greek (upper right) oil on canvas 34.3 x 25 cm. Painted in 1945. Footnotes: Literature E. Florou, Yannis Tsarouchis, his Painting and his Era, Nea Synora - A. A. Livanis editions, Athens 1989, no. 321, p. 265 (listed). Yannis Tsarouchis (1910-1989) Painting, Yannis Tsarouchis Foundation, Athens 1990, no. 164 (illustrated). Captured with compelling realism, a typical 1940-50s working-class Greek couple is stripped of any kind of beautification and pretentiousness to convey in their blunt gaze, ungainly posture and psychological estrangement a strong sense of real people in a real world. Archaising simplification, shallow compositional structure, bold outlines, vigorous brushwork and broad planes of dynamic colour build up a solid edifice of pure form liberated from the fleeting moment, perfectly matching the sitters' silent inflexibility and rigid stylisation. We are reminded of Byzantine icon painting and traditional shadow puppet theatre, which exerted a strong influence on Tsarouchis's work throughout his career. In a highly perceptive 1937 article that also constituted the first comprehensive review of Tsarouchis's work, critic D. Kapetanakis noted that 'broad areas of pure colour occupy a space that ensures their long-lasting harmony. Anything transient must be pushed aside to celebrate the purely pictorial realisation of a symbol's everlasting value. Light and dark contrasts, which place the subject into crammed space and limited time, must be eliminated. We are reminded of the fauves, of Matisse. Tsarouchis learned from them but used their teachings in a very personal manner to produce works that are truly Greek in essence. And what's more without resorting to extravisual references but with detached sobriety. The objects in Tsarouchis's works are studio objects: a chair, a mirror, a vase with paper flowers or a simple screen. Everyday objects that don't even claim to signify the depth of daily life or mundane existence. A kind of decoration inspired by nothing more than the backdrops used by itinerant photographers.'1 1 D. Kapetanakis, 'Yiannis Tsarouchis, Return to Roots', Nea Grammata magazine, 1937 as reprinted in Tsarouchis [in Greek], Zygos, Athens 1978, pp. 7-8. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: AR AR Goods subject to Artists Resale Right Additional Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com