Gülüstan 1965

Sattar Bahlulzade made this large painting, called Gülüstan, and it’s filled with flowers and birds. It seems like a dream or a memory, a world seen through the eyes of someone deeply connected to nature. The way Bahlulzade applies paint is really interesting; it's not about hiding the process, it's about making the painting a record of his movements, his touch. The colors, mostly blues and greens with touches of white, create a hazy, almost ethereal atmosphere. If you look closely, you can see the individual marks that make up the flowers and birds, each one a small gesture of love and attention. The birds, especially, seem to float on top of the flowers, giving the whole painting a sense of movement and life. This feeling reminds me of Milton Avery's landscapes and the way he's able to use color and form to create a mood, a feeling of being in a certain place. Bahlulzade gives us a place that feels both real and imagined, like a perfect memory. Ultimately, Bahlulzade reminds us that art is as much about feeling as it is about seeing.