Portraiture from past to present
Before the invention of photography, portraiture was mainly a genre that was addressed to the higher social classes. But with the new photographic medium, and especially after the invention of the carte-de-visite in 1854 (a portrait glued to a piece of cardboard the size of a traditional visiting card), portraits became accessible, popular and commercially appealing images. «The Photographic Portrait: From a Trace to Allegory,» which is the title of a group exhibition taking place at the Tsichritzis Foundation for the Visual Arts in Kifissia, includes specimens of the photographic portrait from the early, sepia-tinted carte-de-visites to the digital prints of today. The exhibition is organized in collaboration with the Thessaloniki Photography Museum and is held on the occasion of the 13th International Month of Photography. From the contemporary works, the portraits of Cubans by Charis Kakarouchas (an exhibition on his work is currently on display at the Benaki’s Pireos Avenue annex) stand out for making everyday poor people look stately as well as for the use of light that resembles 16th-17th century Dutch painting. The exhibition includes portraits from early 20th century Kastoria by Leonidas Papazoglou and postwar portraits of female rural workers by Dimitris Letsios. With so many faces staring out at the viewer, this is a moving and engaging exhibition about history, tradition and lineage. ([email protected]) At the Tsichritzis Foundation (1 G. Afxentiou, Kifissia, 210.801.7287) to November 10.
