Evening in the mountains 1907

Martiros Sarian painted "Evening in the Mountains" using expressive brushstrokes of oil paint on canvas. The landscape isn't about exact representation, but more about capturing the essence of the scene. Sarian's technique is key here. Notice how he builds up layers of paint, creating a textured surface. The colors are vibrant, applied with a boldness that almost vibrates. He flattens the perspective, focusing on the interplay of shapes and colors rather than creating an illusion of depth. This draws attention to the materiality of the paint itself. In the early 20th century, artists were experimenting with abstraction, challenging traditional notions of what a painting should be. Sarian, while still referencing the natural world, pushes the boundaries by emphasizing the subjective experience and the physical properties of his medium. The result is a landscape transformed through the artist's unique vision and hand. It reminds us that art isn't just about seeing, it's about making.