10 colored drawings for the poems of George Seferis 1965

Yiannis Moralis made this drawing in 1965 using colored inks, probably as studies for larger paintings. I love how the colors clash, yet find their harmony – pinks against greens, and that sky blue wrestling for space. The making of this piece feels intuitive. The artist probably worked swiftly, trying to capture the spirit of George Seferis’ poems; it’s like the drawing tries to catch something fleeting – a feeling or a memory. I imagine Moralis flicking the ink, almost like a calligrapher, letting the colors bleed and blend, allowing the image to emerge organically. There’s a conversation happening here, not just between the artist and the poem, but with other artists. The simplified forms feel like a knowing nod to Matisse and the Fauves. It makes me wonder if Moralis was thinking about them as he made this. Painting is so cool because that is how artists communicate with one another, across time.