Artwork
LACRIMOSA
LACRIMOSA is a photography by Teta Makri. It dates from 1995 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus.
About this work
This black-and-white photo shows a close-up of a woman’s face with tears running down her cheeks.
This black-and-white photo shows a close-up of a woman’s face with tears running down her cheeks. Light hits one side of her face, leaving the other in shadow. The image looks almost like a painting because of how soft the edges are.
Makri isn’t just taking a picture—she’s mixing photography with painting. She studies old art, then reworks it so it feels both real and dreamlike. Here, she turns a simple tear into something quiet but powerful.
Check out another artist who plays with light and shadow: Makri, Teta (1945).
Overview
“LACRIMOSA” (1995) is a black‑and‑white image by Greek artist Vasiliki Makri. The composition is dominated by a stormy sky, where the only bright element is the white of clouds that suggest a heavy, oppressive atmosphere. The landscape itself is indiscernible, focusing attention on the emotional charge conveyed by the visual elements.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents an extreme close‑up of a woman’s face, half illuminated and half shrouded in shadow, with tears streaming down her cheeks. The tears, rendered as luminous streaks against the dark background, function as a visual metaphor for “heavenly” sorrow, amplifying the sense of melancholy and introspection that pervades the piece.
Technique & Style
Makri blends photographic precision with painterly softness, achieving a seamless transition between the two media. The image’s edges are deliberately blurred, giving it an almost painted quality despite its photographic basis. This hybrid approach reflects her broader practice of re‑interpreting historical art through a contemporary, realist lens while retaining a dreamlike atmosphere.
Context
Created during Makri’s 1990s period, the work follows her shift from interior scenes to depictions of natural environments. In this phase, the strict photographic realism of her earlier paintings gives way to a quieter, more contemplative mood, emphasizing atmospheric conditions and emotional resonance over detailed representation.
Legacy
“LACRIMOSA” exemplifies Makri’s ongoing investigation of how modern viewers engage with images saturated by mass media. By presenting a seemingly spontaneous, intimate moment within a staged, storm‑laden setting, the piece invites reflection on the interplay between personal memory, visual culture, and the enduring power of visual metaphor.
Artist & collection
Artist
Greek artist Teta Makri blends photography and drawing in a quiet, cerebral style.
Museum
Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus
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