“The First Steps” by Georgios Iakovidis is one of the most representative works of Greek genre painting, reflecting everyday family life in Greece during the late 19th century. The painting portrays a grandmother gently helping a young child take its first steps, a moment filled with tenderness, patience, and emotional warmth.

Beyond its artistic beauty, the artwork highlights the important role of grandparents, especially grandmothers,in traditional Greek families. In the past, extended families often lived closely together, and grandparents played a central role in raising children, passing on values, traditions, and life experience from one generation to the next.

The scene symbolizes care, guidance, and learning through love. It represents not only a child’s first physical steps but also the first steps in life, supported by family bonds and shared wisdom.

Through this intimate moment, Iakovidis presents universal themes of family, education, and intergenerational connection, allowing viewers from different cultures to recognize familiar emotions and experiences within their own societies.

He was a painter, a sculptor and an architect. He wanted to protect the natural beauty of his island. He believed that art and nature can live together.

He helped to stop big hotels and pollution in Lanzarote. Thanks to him, the island keeps its white houses and natural landscapes.

He was very important because he protected the environment and made Lanzarote famous around the world.

This painting is from the series Ictiología by César Manrique.

In this picture, we can see a big red fish with geometric shapes. The fish is not realistic. It looks creative and imaginary. There is also a black sea urchin and abstract shapes around it.

The yellow background can represent sand. The blue and black colours can represent the sea and volcanic rocks of Lanzarote.

This painting represents the ocean, marine life, and nature. It shows Manrique’s love for the sea and his island. The strong colours make the painting look alive and full of energy.

https://fcmanrique.org/en/cesar-manrique/obra/

https://rossichka.blogspot.com/2010/07/vladimir-dimitrov-maystora-about.html

The painting was done between 1885 and 1888, during one of Jovanović's trips through the Balkans. It was painted for the French Gallery, with which Jovanović was under contract, and was well received by art critics and the public. It remained in the French Gallery's possession until 1893, when it was purchased by a London buyer. In 1935, the Yugoslav Ministry of Foreign Affairs purchased the work and bestowed it to the National Museum of Serbia, in whose possession it remains. In 2009, the painting began undergoing restoration.

Animals on the canva of Pryimachenko are unique, with special character and hidden symbolism tracing back to the ancient Ukrainian mythology. they all are created using bright colours with many flowers, leaves and ornaments around. One of them: "Ukrainian ox" which symbolizes strengh, wealth and prosperity of Ukrainians.

Retrato de Fernando Pessoa

• 1964

• Tela

• Óleo

• Inv. 64P66

• Pintura

• Arte Portuguesa

• Histórias de uma Coleção

The Meaning and Composition of the Painting

In the painting, a man dressed in traditional Ottoman attire is depicted holding a ney (reed flute) and carrying a nakkare (drum) on his back. Around him, several slowly moving tortoises are visible. These tortoises symbolize a society resistant to change, as perceived by Osman Hamdi Bey. The man’s patient attempt to train the tortoises with his ney represents the perseverance and determination needed to lead change.

The painting also reflects the Ottoman Empire’s modernization process and the challenges encountered along the way. The tortoises symbolize societal resistance, while the trainer represents reformists leading this transformation.

The Artist’s Life and Inspiration

Osman Hamdi Bey was not only a painter but also an archaeologist, museum curator, and intellectual. He played a key role in establishing the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. In his art, he skillfully combined Western techniques with Eastern motifs. This dual perspective is evident in “The Tortoise Trainer”, blending symbolism with technical mastery.

The Significance of the Artwork

“The Tortoise Trainer” holds a special place in Turkey’s art history. Its philosophical depth and critique of its time make it a standout piece. The painting serves as a reflection of the Ottoman Empire’s modernization journey. In 2004, it sold at auction for a record-breaking price, further cementing its importance and the global recognition of Turkish art.

Conclusion

Osman Hamdi Bey’s “The Tortoise Trainer” is more than just a painting—it is a narrative of societal transformation. With the artist’s exceptional skill and profound message, this masterpiece continues to captivate viewers across generations.

Well-known Georgian primitivist painter Niko Pirosmani (Nikolay Pirosmanashvili) lived in the period from 1862 to 1918. During his life he lived in poverty and often painted in exchange for food; the real fame came to him only after his death

Niko Pirosmani  orphaned at a young age. He taught himself to paint as a child, creating his own oil for painting, and his specialty was painting directly onto black oil cloth. He was always poor, but willing to work, and as such he held many jobs throughout his life, including a herdsman and a railroad conductor. He also created signboards, co-founded a dairy farm, and held odd-jobs like house painting or white-washing buildings. Because of his destitute situation, he had little relationship with the profession of being an artist. As an example, he joined the Society of Georgian Painter, but developed a strained relationship with the society after one of the other artists drew an offensive caricature of him.

Many of his works were either of historical figures or of everyday people living their everyday lives.

l love green colours.😊

l love country home.😊