Yiannis Tsarouchis (Greek, 1910-1989) Clay vase with flowers signed in Greek and dated '66' (lower right) oil on canvas 85 x 70 cm. Footnotes: Whether I paint men or flowers, I must reveal the divine spirit that lies within them. Yannis Tsarouchis Clay vase with flowers is a splendid and truly irresistible still life of highly silhouetted leaves, stems and petals painted in a serene and joyous spirit with a remarkable radiance of iridescent and sensitive colours. This display of enthrallment with colour is akin to the pictorial world of folk art and reminiscent of the powerful immediacy and disarming sincerity of Theofilos's paintings. The whole picture is enchantingly beautiful, speaking to us in a lyrical idiom of quietude, contentment and the joie de vivre. As noted by art critic A. Schina, 'Tsarouchis was not really interested in the descriptive rendering of luxuriant floral arrangements. His flowers are not meant to be flamboyant and decorative. On the contrary, they reflect everyday reality, alluding, with their different colours, fragrances, textures and sense of freshness, to warm human bodies and friendly gazes, while conveying something from the period's zeitgeist.'1 Discussing a similar work in the A.G. Leventis collection,2 art historian E. Arapoglou noted that 'Tsarouchis's compositions are characterized by an element of openness primarily achieved through his flat backgrounds painted in neutral colours. The latter effectively highlight the details of the main theme, in this case the shining part of the clay pot or the fine contours of the irises. Once again, there is an underlying feel of Greek popular iconography in the characteristically stylised arrangement of the leaves and flowers and in the use of the azure and terracotta tones.'3 1 A. Schina, 'Flowers and Foliage in the Paintings of Yannis Tsarouchis.' 2 Compare also Departure with oval mirror, 1970, Yannis Tsarouchis Foundation, Athens. 3 The A.G. Leventis Collection, The A.G. Leventis Foundation, Athens 1989, p. 168. 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