Steppe flowers 1909

Martiros Sarian made this painting, "Steppe Flowers," using soft strokes to bring it into being, shifting and emerging through trial, error, and intuition. I sympathize with the artist, imagining what it might have been like to create this piece. What might he have been thinking when he made it? The paint looks thin, almost translucent, allowing the ochre underpainting to peek through and add warmth to the overall composition. Look at how the yellow blooms are built up with delicate layers. Each brushstroke seems to vibrate with light, communicating a feeling of joy and vitality. Sarian's broader body of work and other painters explored similar themes of nature and light. Artists are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity. I'm drawn to how painting embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations and meaning.