Figure 1979

Nikos Nikolaou made this "Figure" painting with soft brushstrokes and a muted palette—a hazy blue background and a warm brown base—conjuring an atmosphere of quiet contemplation. I imagine Nikolaou circling around the canvas, trying out different tones, wiping away, and then reapplying, searching for the right balance of color and form. These two nudes feel more like ghosts, emerging from the depths of the painting itself, than figures rooted in reality. They’re rendered with such gentle strokes and an absence of detail that they appear almost unfinished, as if Nikolaou was more interested in the process of their becoming than in their final form. The way the paint is applied so thinly, it's almost translucent, allowing the texture of the canvas to peek through. This kind of subtle interaction between the artist’s hand, the subject, and the materials creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy. It's like Nikolaou is inviting us into his studio, to witness a moment of quiet reflection and creative exploration.