The subject of the Greek café and taverna first appears in the work of Ν. Hatzkyriakos-Ghika in the artist's youth and it plays a major recurring role in his thematic repertoire. The inspiration for his first depictions of cafés came from an old family photograph, taken in 1919 in a café in Aidipsos, which 20 years later he turned into a painting entitled Family afternoon at Aidipsos. The years from 1935 to I960 produced works portraying scenes in places of refreshment in the country, mainly at night ( Café at night, Night at Aidipsos, Night — country restaurant), and a group depicting tavernas {Taverna in the country, Taverna and grill etc). These series reached their peak in 1959-1960 with the quartet: Night ritual, Evening memories, High priest Ό\ά The two friends. In these powerfully symbolic works, the artist -as he explains in a long essay on the most representative work of the group, Evening memories— puts himself in the position of the taverna-owner, priest, and judge; at the same time in two other works he identifies the taverna with his studio. Autobiographical elements in these pictures include depictions of Ghikas' two wives, Tiggie and Barbara, at a taverna in The two friends and in Evening memories.
(EN)
Benaki Museum
