4 - CONSTANTINOS VOLANAKIS (1837–1907)

CONSTANTINOS VOLANAKIS (1837–1907) Fishing at Sunset signed in Greek (lower left) oil on canvas 40 × 70 cm. oil on canvas 15.75 × 27.56 in. Footnotes: Provenance Private collection, Athens. A sensitive evocation of a serene Mediterranean seascape from Volanakis’s Greek period (1884–1907), this work combines realistic and romantic elements deftly woven into a harmonious composition and poetic interpretation of nature. Virtuoso brushwork, immediacy of execution, and precision of detail (note the masterful depiction of the fishermen, the intricate rigging of the masts, and the distant sailing vessels peacefully gliding across calm waters) attest to the hand of an accomplished draftsman, while the soft gradations of light and shadow, the unity of effect, and the sense of peace inspire the viewer to adopt a dreamlike attitude toward life. Particularly remarkable is the sense of open space—a grandiose expanse of sea and sky viewed from a low vantage point in the tradition of the 17th-century Dutch masters—brought to life by subtle yet radiant lighting that lends a lyrical resonance to the work. By contrasting the horizontal stillness of the sea with the pronounced verticality of the sails and masts, the painter creates an almost metaphysical atmosphere where reverie is a kind of prayer. As noted by Professor D. Evangelidis, “often not even a ripple breaks the surface of the sea, and only the sails and tall masts sing the harmonies of subdued colors and bring life to the scene.”1. The side view of the boat creates a powerful diagonal that intersects with the equally strong diagonal defined by the floating nets and corks. Their point of intersection draws the eye to the human activity inside the boat, while the standing figure set against the long horizon adds further verticality to balance the composition. As in many of his most characteristic works, Volanakis chose the subject of the fishing boat to highlight its romantic elements rather than to depict toil and struggle. Moreover, the depiction of the sun—a motif often found in folk art but rarely seen in 19th-century Greek painting, imbues the atmosphere with fleeting glimmers of light and golden luminosity, accentuating the romantic mood and evoking not only Claude Lorrain’s masterful 17th-century renderings but also the attempts of the pioneering Impressionists to break away from concrete form and object. 1. D. E. Evangelidis, Greek Art [in Greek], Athens 1969, p. 128. For further information on this lot, please visit Bonhams.com