| Influence |
 Photios Kontoglou
(1895-1965), was the foremost iconographer in Greece in
the 20th century. The revival of Byzantine iconography
began in 1930 mostly due to this man. Byzantine
iconography has spread to Europe, America and elsewhere.
This revival has also taken place in Romania and among
the Russians of the diaspora.This form of iconography is in demand everywhere. Photios Kontoglou's iconography has been misunderstood by many. He had grown in his work from being somewhat rustic to his more stylized pieces. Often he diverged from his usual way of painting the icon, in order to enhance his talent, gaining an appreciation for other techniques. Consequently, it is a mistake to stereotype his iconography. In 1943 he began to write about this sacred art in an extensive and authoritative way, wishing to explain its features and to show its enormous value. In 1960 he wrote Ekphrasis - the explanation of Orthodox Iconography. This book is a valuable guide for the iconographer to learn the technique of painting the icon according to byzantine tradition. Also, for the general reader "to penetrate to the deeper, spiritual essence of the icons done according to this great tradition" (C. Cavarnos). "Byzantine art," Kontoglou says, "is for me the art of arts. I belive in it as I believe in (Orthodox) religion. Only this art nourishes my soul, through its deep and mysterious powers; it alone quenches the thirst that I feel in the midst of the arid desert that surrounds us. In comparison with Byzantine art, all the others appear to me trivial, 'troubling themselves about many things, when but one thing is needed'."
Iconography offers a vision of time and eternity. Using sacred and symbolic forms and colors, Kontoglou represents that vision in a dramatic fashion. To demonstrate his purpose he employed sober colors, simple shapes and bold lines. Photios Kontoglou never held the elitist position that painting icons was restricted to intellectuals, or professional artists. Even the illiterate have painted them. Like the Holy Scriptures, the icon is the work of the Holy Spirit. His relics are incorrupt, a validation of his works. Links of interest:
Holy Orthodox Church in North America |
Byzantine
iconographers bring the spiritual world into time and
space for which reasons the icon is not
"naturalistic" and "realistic". It's
purpose has a religious function. It wants to express
sanctified things to help man see with spiritual eyes the
Holy Mysteries of the Christian revelation.