April 2025
Periklis Byzantios (1893-1972) and his son Ntikos Byzantios (1924-2007) were two prominent Greek painters who shared a deep artistic and familial bond. While Periklis was known for his realistic and impressionistic depictions of everyday life, Ntikos explored abstraction and modernist influences.
Periklis, a painter, cartoonist, and stage designer, found inspiration in Hydra, where he directed the local branch of the Athens School of Fine Arts. His paintings captured the island’s unique light, depicting sailors, fishermen, and traditional Greek life with warmth and authenticity.
Ntikos received his first artistic training from his father before studying at the Athens School of Fine Arts (1938-1942). In 1946, he moved to Paris on a scholarship, attending the Académie Julian and the Grande Chaumière. There, he interacted with avant-garde artists, including Alberto Giacometti and Dimitris Galanis, who introduced him to engraving.
Despite their different styles, Hydra remained a creative link between father and son. Ntikos often returned to the island, continuing the family’s artistic tradition. Periklis’ art remained rooted in Greek realism, while Nikos embraced abstraction, producing black-and-white sketches, human-centered compositions, and still lifes.
Their relationship was defined by love, mutual respect, and artistic exchange. While Periklis captured Greece’s past, Ntikos sought new artistic expressions, both leaving a lasting impact on Greek modern painting.
