Οι ιστορίες πίσω από την έκδοση Ἑλληνικαί ἐθνικαί ἐνδυμασίαι (Stories behind the “Hellenic national costumes” publication)

The publication accompanies the exhibition under the same title, which was co-organized by the Benaki Museum and the Historical Archive of the National Bank of Greece and hosted at the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture from October 15, 2025, to January 11, 2026. Starting with the seminal publication “Greek National Costumes”, edited by Antonis Benakis, in collaboration with folklorist Angeliki Hatzimichali and painter Nicolas Sperling (vol. 1: Athens 1948, vol. 2: Athens 1954), the exhibition and publication reflect the long process of creation and the adventures of printing the book by the pioneering company Aspiotis-ELKA, but also place this effort in the artistic and ideological context of the time.

Publishing works began in 1930, a year before the Benaki Museum opened its doors to the public. Its preparation spanned part of the interwar period and reflected the ideology and aesthetics of the society of the time; a society that, among other things, was “discovering” Greek folk art and investing in the concept of Greekness.