Illustration to Yeghishe Charents' "Country of Nairi" - Escape of nairyans 1933

Martiros Sarian made this illustration to Yeghishe Charents' "Country of Nairi", called "Escape of nairyans", with ink and paper, and it's all about movement, isn’t it? There’s this real sense of chaos and dynamism created with these bold, graphic black lines. You can see how Sarian really used the starkness of the black ink to his advantage. Look at how he defines the figures—these quick, almost frantic strokes, especially in the crowd. It’s like he’s capturing the energy of people fleeing, using the weight of the ink to convey urgency and fear. Then there's the looming architecture in the background—tilting and distorted, adding to the feeling of instability. The fallen man is particularly emotive, he gives a sense of what is at stake. Sarian's graphic style reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz, who also knew how to use black and white to punch you right in the gut. With its drama and energy, this piece shows us that art doesn’t always need color to speak volumes.