Akteon I 

Costas Niarchos made "Akteon I" using oil on canvas. This painting is very much in keeping with the Impressionist tradition, and its character is influenced by the flow of the brushstrokes and the blending of the paint. Consider the artist’s chosen materials – readily available, mass-produced oil paints. These colors are applied wet-on-wet to achieve the characteristic blurred effect, and the brushwork is confident and immediate, giving a fresh and direct impression of the scene. The artist has paid careful attention to the effects of light on the water and surrounding objects, capturing a fleeting moment in time. Niarchos uses these materials to convey a sense of serenity and simplicity of Greek seaside life, a life built on a long culture of maritime labor, in harmony with the natural world. This painting shows us how the thoughtful application of basic materials can create an artwork with profound meaning.