Between two Islands
This painting merges history and symbolism. I painted a Cephalonian historical figure: the farmer Thodoros Vlachos, identifiable by his Phrygian cap, representing his leadership in the 1849 Cephalonian Uprising against British "Protection" and oppressive local noble families. He embodies the fight for liberty and social justice.
His actions were part of a broader context of national unification and democratic revolutions occurring in Europe during 1848 and 1849. He was ultimately executed by hanging by the British authorities in October 1849.
The Scottish wheelbarrow hints at the burdens of the common people, while the Abies Cephalonica, a native Greek fir, stands in a winter's sunset. This tree symbolizes resilience, and its position in the sunset suggests not only the end of hardship but also the promise of a new dawn for freedom. The painting, through its rich texture and layered symbolism, serves as a commemoration of struggle for social justice and enduring hope.