Portrait of critic Garegin Levonian 1912

Curator: Welcome. Before us hangs Martiros Sarian's 1912 oil on canvas, "Portrait of critic Garegin Levonian." Editor: There’s an intensity that practically leaps off the canvas. The angular brushstrokes, the bold yellows contrasting with deep blues... It feels very urgent, almost confrontational. Curator: Sarian, heavily influenced by European modernism, was forging a distinctly Armenian aesthetic here. Levonian, the sitter, was himself a key figure in promoting modern art in Armenia. Think of this as a dialogue, visually representing that cultural moment. Editor: I see the visual echoes of the symbolist movement as well. Those dark, piercing eyes… They remind me of depictions of intellectuals and prophets throughout art history—the bearers of knowledge and vision. The colors also vibrate together, don't you think? It feels almost feverish. Curator: Absolutely. This was a time of significant intellectual and artistic ferment in Armenia. Sarian and Levonian, through their respective work, were deeply involved in defining a new cultural identity against the backdrop of social and political upheaval. Expressionism certainly suited the spirit. Editor: Looking closer at the details, you really see how Sarian distilled Levonian's essence into almost abstract forms. That dark hat creates a mysterious frame and that mustache is definitely asserting something! He is a fascinating character and this portrait truly does capture him. I feel like Sarian really understood Levonian. Curator: He understood him as a peer. Someone who would, through his critique, shape the very landscape Sarian was trying to define with his art. The painting also appeared at a number of art showings that brought new talent and modern works to the attention of many audiences. Editor: To consider all those connections within this painting opens a real vista to Armenian expressionism and what Garegin Levonian might have thought as a critic during the process. Thank you for shedding light on it. Curator: It seems to capture Levonian's critical gaze itself; how he helped make it all possible in the first place.