Artwork
Σπουδή για το Γράμμα Β (ΙΙΙ)
Σπουδή για το Γράμμα Β (ΙΙΙ) is a drawing by Chryssa (Vardea-Mavromichali). It dates from 1962 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus. Created in 1962, this drawing isolates the Greek letter beta, rendering it as a fragmented, three‑dimensional form.
About this work
You see a drawing of the Greek letter beta, broken into sharp lines and shaded forms, like a puzzle piece made of metal and shadow.
You see a drawing of the Greek letter beta, broken into sharp lines and shaded forms, like a puzzle piece made of metal and shadow.
Chryssa made this in 1962, after moving from Greece to San Francisco and then New York. She became drawn to letters not as words, but as shapes found in cities — on signs, newspapers, and storefronts. Here, she zooms in on beta, treating it like a building or sculpture. She uses pencil marks to give it depth, making a flat symbol feel like it’s made of steel and light.
This kind of close focus on marks and shading is part of a technique called cross-hatching, stippling.
Overview
Created in 1962, this drawing isolates the Greek letter beta, rendering it as a fragmented, three‑dimensional form. Through precise line work and shading, the symbol is presented as a constructed object, its planes suggested by intersecting strokes that evoke metal and light.
Subject & Meaning
Chryssa treats the letter not as a linguistic sign but as an architectural element, echoing the visual language of urban signage. By dissecting beta into interlocking facets, the work explores how typographic forms can function as sculptural objects within the visual environment.
Technique & Style
The piece employs dense cross‑hatching and stippling to model volume, creating a sense of depth on a flat surface. The meticulous pencil marks simulate the texture of metal, while the fragmented composition suggests the deconstruction of a familiar glyph into abstract components.
History & Provenance
After relocating from Greece to San Francisco in the mid‑1950s and later to New York, Chryssa turned her attention to letters as visual material. This drawing belongs to a series of studies from the early 1960s in which she examined individual characters before translating them into neon sculptures.
Context
The work reflects the artist’s fascination with the visual culture of mid‑century American cities, where signage, newspaper headlines, and storefront lettering populated the streetscape. By focusing on a single Greek character, she bridges her heritage with the contemporary urban aesthetic that informed her practice.
Artist & collection
Artist
Chryssa Vardea-Mavromichali (Greek: Χρυσά Βαρδέα-Μαυρομιχάλη; December 31, 1933 – December 23, 2013) was a Greek American artist who worked in a wide variety of media.
Museum
Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus
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