Gathering peaches in the collective farm in Armenia 1938

Martiros Sarian painted this scene of the peach harvest in Armenia with visible brushstrokes that conjure the tactile quality of the fruit itself. I can imagine the process of painting this, the artist layering strokes of orangey yellows, allowing the colour to both blend and remain distinct, in an effort to capture the sensation of standing in this orchard. There is a wonderful mix of cool blues and greens which create a sense of calm and freshness in contrast to the mounds of peaches in the foreground. The tree dominates the frame. Sarian seems to balance the weight and volume of the fruit with the open sky. The small donkey with a laden basket is really neat. You get the sense of people working together in the heat of the day, but also enjoying each other's company. Sarian communicates such a strong sense of place and lived experience. It reminds me how artists across the world inspire one another. Painting is a continuous exchange, isn’t it?