Portrait of composer Aram Khachaturian 1944

Martiros Sarian painted this portrait of the composer Aram Khachaturian, and you can see how the painting is built up through layers of brushstrokes. The dark suit melts into the background, only popping when it hits the light. Check out the hands. They are pale and luminous, painted with short, soft strokes. The folds and creases around the knuckles are defined with subtle shadows, giving them a sculptural quality. The way the light catches the tips of his fingers, it’s as if Khachaturian is in the middle of a silent, expressive gesture. The rainbow-like pattern behind him is intriguing because it echoes his work as a composer. I wonder, did Sarian and Khachaturian discuss the relationship between the visual arts and music while the painting was being made? The mark making in this piece reminds me of Kandinsky, who was exploring the relationship between art and music at a similar time. Ultimately, it's up to us to compose our own interpretation.