George Savakis

George Savakis (Γιώργος Σαβάκης, * 1907 in Athens; † 2005) was a Greek artist famous for his colourful paintings showing Athens in the beginning and mid of 20th century. Today a few of Savakis' paintings are on display at tavernas in the Plaka district, where he lived.

Biography

Savakis lived in Plaka, the old town of Athens and worked as a portrait artist. During the German occupation of Athens he started sketching scenes of everyday life, e.g. the black market at the Stoa Attalou. In the post-war period he started to paint these scenes on oil and painted also large canvas for the tavernas of the Plaka with motives of the annual carneval and the streets of the quarter. At this time he MET ART dealers and other artists for the first time, and even the later King of Greece Konstantine II. His popuarity was growing when the Plaka was popular for its picturesque architecture and traditional tavernas. Later he made exhibitions in Germany and the USA. A small French town made him an honorary citizen for his paintings showing the town during his several vacations there. One of his last works was a sympisium AbOUT food in the Restaurant "Thalassa" in New York.

de:George Savakis el:Γιώργος Σαβάκης