National Gallery of Athens

Welcome to the National Gallery of Athens, the primary custodian of Greece’s artistic heritage from the post-Byzantine period to the present day. Also known as the Alexandros Soutzos Museum, this institution is the result of over…

Before entering, take a moment to admire the architecture. The original building, designed in the 1960s by Pavlos Mylonas and Fatouros, was a classic of Greek brutalist-modernism. …

One of the most powerful sections of the gallery is dedicated to the 19th-century artists who documented the Greek War of Independence. Following the establishment of the modern Greek state, there was a pressing need for a…

In the mid-to-late 19th century, the cultural center for Greek artists shifted toward Munich, thanks to the connections between the Greek and Bavarian monarchies. This gave rise to what we call the 'Munich School,' characterized…

As you move into the 20th-century galleries, you will encounter the 'Generation of the Thirties,' a group of artists who sought to reconcile modernism with 'Greekness.' This was a pivotal moment in Greek culture, led by figures…

The National Gallery is also home to a significant collection of modern Greek sculpture, tracing a journey from the idealised forms of the 19th century to the daring abstractions of the contemporary era. Begin with the…

We must not forget the man whose name is synonymous with this institution: Alexandros Soutzos. A wealthy jurist and art lover, Soutzos died in 1896, leaving his entire estate and his personal art collection to the Greek state for…

The National Gallery is not just a repository of the past; it is a vibrant center for contemporary dialogue. The new expansion includes state-of-the-art galleries for temporary exhibitions, which host major shows featuring both…

As you conclude your visit to the National Gallery of Athens, I hope you feel a deeper connection to the spirit of modern Greece. Through these paintings and sculptures, you have witnessed a nation’s journey from revolution and…