Construction of bridge 1933

Martiros Sarian created this painting of a bridge under construction in 1932, using oil on canvas. The subject matter itself speaks volumes about the artist's focus: not a finished, polished product, but rather the process of creation. Sarian highlights the labor-intensive aspects of bridge building. Look at the workers, who are hand-shaping stones. Notice the wooden scaffolding, a temporary structure built with traditional carpentry, which supports the stone arches. The weight and texture of the stone blocks, contrasted with the relative lightness of the wood, emphasize the raw, physical nature of the work. The entire scene shows a world being actively constructed through labor. Sarian isn’t just showing a bridge; he’s inviting us to consider the human effort, skill, and collaboration required to make it. The painting reminds us that every structure, no matter how monumental, is the result of collective action and material transformation. Sarian elevates the ordinary and the industrious, urging us to value the act of making as much as the object itself.