For the Armenians-fighters, veterans of World War II 1945

Martiros Sarian made this painting, ‘For the Armenians-fighters, veterans of World War II,’ with oil on canvas. I can almost feel him wrestling with the paint, trying to capture the vibrancy of these flowers. The colors seem to burst out, and the brushstrokes are so alive, like he's trying to hold onto something fleeting. I imagine him stepping back, squinting, adding another layer of color, then another, each stroke building on the last. Those little jars of flowers, how many times did he rearrange them, trying to get it just right? Did he want to convey the bittersweet feeling that often follows a war? The need to celebrate life but also to remember loss? The flowers feel like a symbol of resilience and hope. What a statement. It reminds me that we artists are all in conversation with each other across time. We borrow, steal, and build upon what came before, each adding our own voice to the mix. Painting is such an ongoing, beautiful mess, isn't it?