Portrait of architect Toros Toramanian 1934

Martiros Sarian painted this portrait of architect Toros Toramanian in 1934, and right away, I’m struck by the way Sarian fearlessly lays down these strokes of color, almost like he's building up the face. It's process as portrait, like architecture! The paint has this juicy, almost sculptural quality, especially around the eyes and cheekbones, where the pigment seems to pile up, catching the light. It’s as if Sarian is not just painting a likeness but capturing the very essence of Toramanian, his intensity, his gaze. See how those thick, dark eyebrows create a kind of architectural overhang, casting shadows that give the face depth and mystery? It reminds me of some of the portraits by Lovis Corinth, this same unflinching gaze, and I feel like art is this constant conversation, echoing and riffing off each other across time. It’s not about perfection, it’s about expression.