Artwork
Μαξιλάρια
Μαξιλάρια is a drawing by Karavousis Sarantis. It dates from 1984 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus. The work titled “Pillows” is a lithographic image by Greek artist Sarantis Karavousis (1938–2011).
About this work
The pillows have plain colors—white, gray, and tan—and soft folds show how they press against each other.
This drawing shows three pillows stacked on a simple table. The pillows have plain colors—white, gray, and tan—and soft folds show how they press against each other. Tiny cross-hatching shadows give each pillow its shape.
Karavousis liked to draw everyday objects in quiet rooms. He often used engraving tools to add fine lines, even in drawings like this one. You can see how he kept the same careful style whether he was carving wood or sketching on paper.
Look for similar details in still-life drawings by Karavousis Sarantis (1938 – 2011).
Overview
The work titled “Pillows” is a lithographic image by Greek artist Sarantis Karavousis (1938–2011). It presents a modest still‑life: three cushions of muted hues—white, gray and tan—arranged on a simple table. The composition occupies the central area of the stone, set within an irregular interior that suggests a quiet, domestic space.
Subject & Meaning
Karavousis repeatedly chose ordinary household items as his subjects, seeking to reveal their quiet presence. In this piece the stacked pillows become a study of volume and contact, their soft folds and subtle color differences emphasizing the tactile qualities of everyday objects.
Technique & Style
Executed with a lithographic crayon, the image allows the artist to draw directly on the stone surface, a method that bridges his work in engraving and painting. Fine cross‑hatching creates delicate shadows that model each pillow, while the overall line work retains the precise, controlled quality characteristic of his woodcut and etching practice.
History & Provenance
Karavousis began his career in woodcut engraving before expanding to etching and lithography. “Pillows” exemplifies this later phase, illustrating how his lithographic practice maintained the same compositional and drawing concerns evident throughout his oeuvre. The piece is documented among his still‑life drawings produced in the latter half of the 20th century.
Context
The lithograph belongs to a broader series of still‑life works in which Karavousis explored intimate interior settings. By focusing on simple, unadorned objects, he aligned with a tradition of quiet realism, contrasting the more dramatic narratives prevalent in contemporary Greek art of the period.
Artist & collection
Museum
Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus
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