The family of Andreas Papoutsakis was one of the Cretan families who came (as refugees from Crete) to rebuild their life, chased and devastated by the Turkish yoke, in Syros. The surviving identity document records his date of birth as 1879.

Most of his works, at least his early significant ones, did not even bear his signature. He was not interested in putting his signature on them. His sole aim was to satisfy his inner urge to paint and depict his favorite theological subjects and characters.

We know from testimonials and information from his descendants that besides his painting talent, he had another remarkable skill: restoring old furniture or anything else that was requested of him. Many of his iconographies, as well as paintings, feature folk themes. They depict the life of ordinary people, always with a characteristic patriotic and divinely inspired style.