El Greco

El Greco was a painter active in Spain from the late 16th century to the early 17th century. "El Greco" is a common name meaning Greek, and his real name was Domenikos Theotokopoulos. His works are known for their unique and unparalleled style, characterized by vertically elongated figures, fantastical colors, and dramatic use of light and shade. He left behind masterpieces, mainly religious paintings, as well as portraits, and his original art had a great influence on artists of later generations.

El Greco Biography

• Born in 1541 in Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
• It is believed that he was active as an icon painter in his youth.
• Around 1567, he moved to Venice and was influenced by Titian and others.
• Around 1570, he moved to Rome and studied the works of Michelangelo and Raphael.
• In 1577, he moved to Toledo, Spain, where he continued his artistic endeavors.
• He received many religious painting orders from the churches and monasteries of Toledo.
• He produced his masterpieces, such as "The Burial of Count Orgaz" and "The Holy Trinity".
• Died in Toledo on April 7, 1614 (aged 73)

Representative works

• The Burial of the Count of Orgaz (1586-1588)
• The Trinity (1577-1579)
• The Adoration of the Shepherds (1612-1614)
• View of Toledo (c. 1599-1600)
• The Immaculate Conception (1607-1613)

The Art of El Greco

El Greco's art is unique in its originality compared to other painters of his time. In particular, his elongated human figures, twisted poses, and shimmering touches are considered typical examples of " Mannerism ." His vivid colors and dramatic contrasts of light and darkness leave a strong impression on the viewer. His works show the influence of Byzantine art in his native Greece, the colors of the Venetian school, and Michelangelo and others who studied in Rome. However, he established his own unique style that fuses and sublimates these elements. In his religious paintings, he created mysterious and fantastical spaces and succeeded in expressing the inner feelings of the characters.

El Greco's influence and later generations

Due to his extremely unique style of painting, El Greco was sometimes considered a heretic during his lifetime, but his work has been reevaluated since the 20th century. Expressionist and Surrealist painters in particular were strongly influenced by El Greco's unique art. Today, El Greco is highly regarded around the world as one of Spain's greatest painters. Keywords such as " Mannerism ," " Toledo ," " vertical figures ," " fantastic colors ," and " dramatic light and shade " are important elements in understanding El Greco's art. His works are housed in museums around the world and continue to fascinate many people even today.