Lot 73: AR Alecos Condopoulos (Greek, 1905-1975) Morning dew on arid land 110 x 100 cm.

Alecos Condopoulos (Greek, 1905-1975)
Morning dew on arid land signed in Greek and dated '1973' (lower right); signed, dated and titled (on the reverse)oil on canvas110 x 100 cm.

Provenance: The Greek Sale, Bonhams, London, 10 November 2008, lot 82.Acquired from the above by the present owner.ExhibitedAthens, National Gallery and Alexander Soutzos Museum, Alecos Condopoulos, March 1976, no 124.Lamia, A. Condopoulos Retrospective, Municipal Gallery, 1996, p.54 (referred in the exhibition catalogue).Literature: A.Condopoulos, Athens 1979, no 323 (illustrated).Dreamy images of poetic metaphor freely juxtaposed in unexpected combinations occupy an enigmatic landscape, undermining narrative cohesion and revealing the mysterious pathways of the mind. "Between 1960 and 1970, Condopoulos' work ventured beyond abstraction, reflecting the artist's inner need to engage in a discourse with his time and fellow men rather than be solely preoccupied with probing into his own psyche."1 Organic forms collide with undecipherable shapes, conveying a tense atmosphere of heightened activity and alluding to the multiplicity of perceptions, ideas and experiences that largely define the modern human condition."Since 1970 Condopoulos became increasingly involved with figurative types combined with abstract elements, fragmented forms and an overall parcelling out of the pictorial surface. Calligraphic motifs coupled with geometric designs of expressionistic colour and a sense of ambiguous space became more prominent. Even a handful of works from his 1970-1974 period, such as his most characteristic Morning dew on arid land painted in 1973, would suffice to convey the wealth and prowess of Condopoulos' expressive language."2Fragmentary references to both the real and the imaginary in daring combinations of blazing colour conspire to create a challenging work of throbbing energy, suggestive symbolism and subtle social commentary. In its deliberately untidy contours, exuberant but effacing brushstrokes, seemingly random spillings and drippings and intense paint smears this bold picture bridges the gap between action painting and pop art, as manifested mainly in the work of Robert Rauschenberg.1. S. Lydakis, 'Biographical Notes' [in Greek] in Alekos Kontopoulos (exhibition catalogue), National Gallery and Alexandros Soutzos Museum, Athens 1976, p. 35.2. C. Christou, 'Alecos Condopoulos' [in Greek] in Alecos Condopoulos, Retrospective, exhibition catalogue, 'A. Condopoulos' Municipal Gallery of Lamia, Lamia 1996, p. 54.