Amberd 1957

Martiros Sarian made this painting, Amberd, with oils, and what strikes me is how his marks work together to describe a place. There's a real sense of process here, of building up the image, layer by layer. Looking closely, you can see the physicality of the paint. It's not overly thick, but it's definitely present. The brushstrokes are visible, especially in the way he's rendered the hillside. There’s this energetic diagonal slash of yellow ochre that really catches my eye, it gives the whole scene movement and dynamism. It's almost like he’s directing our gaze up towards the ruins at the top, making us feel the steepness of the climb. Sarian reminds me of Van Gogh in his intensity and use of expressive brushwork, but with a more subdued palette, finding beauty in what some might consider a less obviously picturesque landscape. Ultimately, art is about seeing the world in different ways, and Sarian certainly offers us a unique perspective.