Vasileios Hatzis was born in 1870 in Kastoria[1] to a family involved in shipping; he spent his childhood in Patras.

[2] From 1886 to 1893 he studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts under Nikiforos Lytras and Konstantinos Volanakis.

[1] While known primarily for his seascapes, Hatzis also painted landscapes and scenes from the lives of farmers and fishermen.

He painted in both academic and en plein air styles,[1] and the influence of impressionism may be detected in his work.

[1] Shortly after his death, a solo exhibition of over 260 of his works was held at the Zappeion hall in Athens.