He studied at the School of the Arts (1902-1906), taught by his father, Nikiforos Lytras, and Georgios Iakovidis. Starting in 1907, he continued his studies at the Academy of Munich, with teacher Ludwig von Löfftz. While in the Bavarian capital, he came in contact with German Expressionism and the creations of the group “Blaue Reiter”. After his return to Athens, in 1912, he began to participate in the exhibitions of the Union of Greek Artists (1915, 1916, 1917, 1920, 1926), and in 1919 he exhibited jointly with sculptor Grigorios Zevgolis. He was a founding member of the art group “Omada Techni”. In 1923 he was elected professor at the Athens School of Fine Arts. After his death, retrospective exhibitions of his work were held at the Zappeion in 1929 and the Venice Biennale in 1936.
Nikos Lytras, together with Konstantinos Parthenis and Konstantinos Maleas, are jointly considered as the “regenerators” of modern Greek art in the early 20th century. Nikos Lytras influenced the development of Greek painting through both his teaching at the Athens School of Fine Arts and his pioneering work. His portraits, landscapes and still lifes are constructed through broad free brushstrokes of thick color applied in a gestural manner.

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  The Little Donkey
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  Κεφάλι παιδιού