Portrait of a woman with black cat 

Costas Niarchos made this portrait of a woman with a black cat using oil on canvas. Here, paint is applied quickly, with loose brushstrokes, to capture a fleeting moment in time. The material of the oil paint itself contributes significantly to the artwork's appearance. Notice the thickness of the paint in some areas, creating texture and depth. The colors are muted and earthy, giving the painting a warm, intimate feel. Niarchos's technique involves building up layers of paint, blending and juxtaposing hues to create form and shadow, and texture. The seemingly casual, informal approach speaks to Niarchos’s broader project: to see painting as a direct transcription of his perception. Ultimately, this work challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft by elevating the simple materials and processes of painting to a means of capturing everyday beauty and emotion.