Kara-Dag Mountain 1922

Martiros Sarian painted Kara-Dag Mountain, probably en plein air, in 1922, using oil on canvas. The mountain emerges from the landscape with a sense of quiet grandeur. You can almost feel Sarian layering the paint, building up the form through touch and intuition. I wonder what it was like for him, standing there, brush in hand, trying to capture the light as it hit the rugged peaks. You notice how the color defines the form, not through blending, but through stark contrast. The shadows aren't just dark, they’re like deep pools of blue, carving out the mountain’s shape. The composition is straightforward and honest, a direct response to the landscape, like Cezanne confronting Mont Sainte-Victoire. There’s an exchange happening. A conversation between the artist and the mountain, an ongoing dialogue between painters across time. That’s what painting is all about.