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Homage to Heraclitus: Earth I - Black and White Landscape Photograph of a Cave

Creator: John Stathatos
Offered by: Arco Gallery

Description
This black-and-white photograph, Homage to Heraclitus: Earth I, from John Stathatos’s Three Heraclitean Elements series, embodies the timeless majesty of the Greek landscape. The image captures a rugged rock face, its surface alive with intricate textures and natural contours that evoke both permanence and transformation. With striking contrasts of light and shadow, the photograph highlights the interplay between the earth’s enduring solidity and the slow erosion that shapes it over millennia.

Stathatos draws inspiration from the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, who viewed the elements as symbols of perpetual flux. The rugged beauty of the rock face, with its cracks and crevices, mirrors the philosophical concept of change as a constant force in nature. The monochromatic palette accentuates the tactile and sculptural quality of the stone, while the composition invites contemplation of the earth’s dual nature—both a stable foundation and a record of ceaseless transformation.

Rooted in Greek heritage and philosophy, this photograph transcends documentation, transforming the landscape into a meditation on time, memory, and the cycles of existence. It is a timeless work of art that speaks to collectors, interior designers, and photography enthusiasts seeking pieces with historical and philosophical depth.

John Stathatos was born in Greece. He lives and works between the Greek island of Kythira and London. He is best known for his photographic work, mostly in a black - and white format, exploring philosophical, as well as sociological, and literary themes through the portraiture of objects (A Visual Primer of the World, 2011), natural elements (Three Heraclean Elements, 1991), and places (Arboretum, 2006).
Independent from the subject matter, Stathatos's photographic work is imbued by a pronounced solemnity that compels the viewer to pause and consider the underlying meaning.

His principal photographic works include Homage to Melville, 1988; The Gardens of the Hesperides, 1993; Akea, 1994; The Book of Lost Cities, 1996; Lumen, 2004; Lithoi/Stones, 2006; Airs, Waters, Places, 2009; and Change, 2012.

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Period:	New
Condition:	New.
Styles / Movements:	Black & White, Contemporary
Dealer Reference #:	JS001
Incollect Reference #:	751038

Dimensions

W.	40 in;	H.	50 in;
W.	101.6 cm;	H.	127 cm;

Message from Seller:

Arco Gallery, founded in 2013 by Valentina Puccioni, offers a truly personalized art experience in the heart of SoHo, NYC. Located in a historic loft and open by appointment only, the gallery provides exclusive, intimate viewings, away from the mainstream gallery scene. P: 212.226.1207 E: valentina@arcogallery.com