Folk painter Theophilos Hatzimihail dies

"I always remember Theophilos when I think of Makriyiannis. I was telling you that Makriyiannis is one of the most educated souls of new Hellenism, and I believe the same about Theophilos if the word education means an intellectual," Giorgos Seferis wrote in Essays. Theophilos Hatzimihail was born in 1871 in Varia, Lesvos, and died in Mytilene in 1934. He was taught painting by his hagiographist grandfather Konstantis (Hatzis) Mihail, and from 1883 to 1897 (;) he lived in Smyrni (present-day Izmir), working perhaps for the Greek consulate.

After the end of the War of 1897 – where he was a volunteer – he settled in Pelion until 1925 when he returned to Mytilene. Both in Pelion and Lesvos, Theophilos worked as a painter, painting frescoes in houses (e.g., Giannis Kontos' house / Theophilos Museum, Anakasia Volos) and in shops, painting on wood and cardboard. Inspired by folk flyers, icons, and prints, Theophilos was one of the last links of a painting tradition lost during the years of the Turkish Occupation. At the same time, he was a unique folk creator, discovered by Stratis Eleftheriadis / Teriant and the Greek intelligentsia, who became a symbol of the understated folk art at a time when "return to tradition» was desirable.