ABSTRACT
The decade 1945-55 was a period of intense activity for the Institut francais d'Athenes. The Institut francais d'Athenes was created in 1907 and quickly expanded its mission to encompass more than the teaching of French language and culture to young Greeks. The most spectacular event of those years, however, apart from the voyage of the Mataroa, was the 'Exhibition of works offered by French artists in Homage to Greece', which opened its doors at the French Institute on 17 April 1949. Aside from the Franco-Greek publications, there were exhibitions that rendered homage to the great figures of modern Greek literature. The first, dedicated to Sikelianos, took place immediately after the poet's death in 1951. Another exhibition followed in 1956, in honour of Aristotelis Valaoritis, while the exhibition for the centenary of the death of Solomos, in 1957, was particularly significant and attracted many visitors to the French Institute.
