Head 

Nikos Nikolaou painted this work, simply titled Head, using oil on wood. Born in Greece in 1909, Nikolaou’s art reflects the tumultuous history of the 20th century, marked by wars and significant social change. Here, a woman's face, rendered in warm, earthy tones, gazes out at us. Nikolaou moves away from traditional portraiture, his style hinting at the raw and expressive forms found in folk art. Her wide eyes convey a sense of vulnerability, perhaps reflecting the experience of many Greek women during a time of conflict and upheaval. "I seek to capture the essence of humanity," Nikolaou once said, "the emotions and struggles that connect us all." Consider the gaze of this subject, and the histories of those often overlooked, as Nikolaou prompts a dialogue between personal emotion and broader cultural narratives.