In the open space in front of the coffee shop, likely the village square, and under the shade of grand old trees, the artist gives us a scene encompassing all different phases of Cypriots at leisure. The two-storey building is probably located in either Bellapais or Lapithos village. Although naïve in its execution, this picture is ethnographically very informative.
The all-male setting of the Cypriot coffee shop provides the location for recording the multiple postures of the Cypriots during relaxation, bringing to mind the humorous phrase of George Mikes who claimed that a Greek needs at least 5 chairs to make himself comfortable!
The priest is seen reading the newspaper, sitting on one chair and resting his legs on another. His presence in the coffee shop bears evidence to the lack of any great social segregation between the clergy and the laity in the Orthodox context. A child sits cross-legged on the ground and is leaning against the wall, watching the commotion. Another figure in contemporary clothes is seated on a chair and rests his head against his arms. In the corner on the right, a young man is playing a musical instrument and singing while another dances to the tune, flamboyantly waving a handkerchief.
In the foreground, a figure with a moustache, wearing a cap and dark clothing appears to be leaning awkwardly on the rear feet of the chair. In the centre, a man sits back to front embracing the back of a green chair. Both are typical coffee shop postures in Cyprus. A peddler in heavy black boots and dark baggy trousers, white shirt and a red scarf tied around his neck appears practicing his trade. In the left corner, a curious figure sits with his legs crossed addressing the peddler with a hand gesture. He is dressed in clothes indicating a sailor on leave. A dog always forms part of such scenes. A couple of elderly figures are seen walking away.
The absence of any female figures within the establishment is explained by the fact that in rural Cyprus the coffee shop and its surroundings was a taboo space for women. As in all male-dominated societies, women are excluded from public domains.
PNT-00224 > Judy Findlay, The Coffee Shop, Oil on Board, 31x29 cm, 1960.
