Fisherman at Mytilini 

Chronis Botsoglou painted this portrait of a Fisherman at Mytilini using traditional oil paint on canvas. The material itself is relatively straightforward, but the way Botsoglou applies it tells us a lot. Look closely, and you'll notice the rough texture he's created. The brushstrokes are visible, almost like the furrows on the fisherman's face itself. These marks emphasize the physical presence of the paint, its inherent qualities of texture and form. It is a stark contrast to the smooth, idealized portraits you might see of the wealthy. The processes involved in the painting – the mixing of pigments, the layering of paint, the careful observation of the subject – all contribute to the artwork's social significance. Botsoglou engages with a long tradition of portraiture but shifts the focus to the working class, highlighting the labor and lived experience etched into the fisherman's face. Ultimately, Botsoglou reminds us that even the simplest materials, when handled with skill and intention, can convey complex ideas about labor, class, and the human condition.