Head of Kore, 1921

Antonios Sochos was one of the first sculptors to distance himself from neoclassicist doctrines and turn in a completely different direction. His study of archaic plastic art from the 7th and 6th century BC, of Cycladic figurines, as well as Gothic art, coupled with his initiation into the long tradition of folk sculpture on Tinos in combination with an acquaintance with the avant garde movements in Europe were the sources of his inspiration.

“Head of Kore”, carved directly into porous stone, with the beautiful features, the expressive face and the slight but thoughtful frown, makes it obvious that he drew his inspiration from the “Kores” on the Acropolis. The frontal rendering, the lips, the eyebrows and the pupils of the eye which are lightly made-up, the stylized hair-style which softly frames the face and even the material itself, connect this work to the figures of archaic plastic art, while the incorporated base, which creates a compact volume with the head and the neck, serves as a reference to ancient hermaic steles.