Egyptian masks 1911

Editor: Martiros Sarian’s "Egyptian Masks," painted in 1911 using acrylic paint, presents a fascinating group of faces. They’re very stylized, almost like cut-outs, with bold colors. The composition is so interesting and kind of perplexing, the figures don’t seem to interact. How do you interpret this work, considering its historical context? Curator: It's crucial to remember that 1911 was a time of intense artistic experimentation, and of burgeoning Western fascination with non-Western cultures, fueled in part by colonial expansion and archaeological discoveries. The fascination with Egyptian art took the shape of "Egyptomania". Sarian likely encountered Egyptian artifacts through reproductions or museum collections, both becoming increasingly available and influential on artistic movements like Expressionism and nascent Cubism. Editor: So, the painting is a response to the artistic climate more than an actual deep-dive into Egyptian culture? Curator: Partially. It is crucial to remember that even an academic approach, can not bypass cultural lenses of the era. It is more like an appropriation; the artist appropriating and reinterpreting those forms, filtered through his artistic lens. How might this painting reflect the socio-political dynamics of the time? The artist isn't aiming for historical accuracy, rather expressing something about the impact of "Egyptianess" on the modern art scene. Editor: I never thought about cultural dynamics as an active force in visual arts. Seeing this painting in this context is quite thought-provoking, considering how art can act like a time capsule of socio-political and institutional interests. Thanks, this makes the work so much richer and I will reconsider other pieces as products of cultural movements as well.