Hand 1956

Alekos Kontopoulos made this painting of a hand with what looks like oil on board. It’s cool how the artist coaxes form out of such a limited palette, almost monochromatic, but full of subtle variations and tones. The colour is built up in layers, giving the hand a sculptural quality, like it's emerging from stone. Up close, you can see how Kontopoulos allows the texture of the board to peek through, adding a kind of grittiness to the smooth, almost velvety rendering of the hand itself. Take a look at the thumb, and the way the light catches the edge of the nail. It’s rendered with such care and precision that it almost feels like a portrait of a hand, not just a representation. This piece reminds me of some of Alberto Giacometti’s sculptures – those elongated figures, all about capturing the essence of a form rather than its literal appearance. Ultimately, art is an ongoing conversation, a playful exploration that invites us to see the world anew.