During the summer of 1914, when Engonopoulos' family went on a trip to Constantinople were obliged to settle there, due to the outbreak of World War I.

[4] In 1932 he joined the Athens School of Fine Arts, where he studied under Konstantinos Parthenis, Dimitrios Biskinis, Thomas Thomopoulos and Yannis Kefallinos.

[6] His first paintings, mostly temperas on paper depicting old houses, were presented at an Art of Modern Greek Tradition exhibition, organised in January 1938.

[2] In 1958, he won the First Poetry Award of the Greek Ministry of Education and in 1966 received the Gold Cross of George I for his contribution to Arts.

In 1967 he was elected professor of painting at the National Technical University of Athens, and held this position until 1973 when he retired.

His works are noted for the combination of elements from tradition, history, religion and the contemporary period mixed with his own sarcastic attitude.