George Bouzianis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Bouzianis
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| Born | November 8, 1885 |
| Died | October 23, 1959 (aged 73) Athens, Greece
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| Occupation | Painter |
George Bouzianis (born November 8, 1885 – died October 23, 1959) was a very important Greek painter. He was known for his unique style called expressionism. Expressionism is an art style where artists show their feelings and emotions in their paintings, often using strong colors and shapes, instead of just painting things exactly as they look.
Contents
The Life of a Painter
Early Life and Studies
George Bouzianis was born in Athens, Greece. He loved art from a young age. He studied painting at the Athens School of Fine Arts. There, he learned from famous teachers like Nikiphoros Lytras and Konstantinos Volanakis.
In 1907, he moved to Munich, Germany. He wanted to learn even more about art. He continued his studies with a teacher named Otto Seitz.
Art in Germany
A few years later, in 1910, George moved to Berlin. Here, he learned from another important artist, Max Liebermann. By 1917, George had started to use ideas from a German art movement called German expressionism. He developed his own special way of painting.
He quickly became a respected artist in Germany. Soon, he signed a contract with the Barhfeld gallery, which helped him show and sell his art. In 1927, a big exhibition of his work was held in Chemnitz.
Between 1929 and 1932, George traveled and lived in Paris, France. The Barhfeld gallery helped him financially during this time. However, a big money problem across Europe meant he had to go back to Germany. He returned to his house in Eichenau, near Munich. Sadly, the expressionist art style became less popular in Germany. This happened because of new political changes in the country.
Return to Greece
In 1934, George Bouzianis decided to return to Greece. He hoped to get a teaching job at the School of Fine Arts in Athens. But, he was disappointed because he didn't get the position.
At first, many people in the art world in Athens didn't understand or like his style. They found his expressionist paintings unusual. However, things changed after he had an exhibition at the Parnassos gallery in 1949. After this show, more and more people started to appreciate his unique artwork.
Later Recognition
George Bouzianis gained more recognition in his later years. In 1950, he represented Greece at the Venice Biennale. This is a very famous international art exhibition.
Then, in 1952, he won the top award for Greece in the Guggenheim competition. This was a big honor for his art.
After he passed away in 1959, his house in Dafni, Attica was turned into a museum. Today, you can see his paintings in the National Gallery of Athens and in many other museums both in Greece and in other countries.
See also
- Art in modern Greece
- National Gallery of Greece
