Karelia. Old House 1983

Petros Malayan’s watercolor, "Karelia. Old House," probably made in 1945, captures a simple, rural scene. I love how the washes of color evoke the quiet stillness of twilight. You can almost feel the damp air, the cool evening, the heavy skies. Malayan’s got this palette of grays, blues, and earth tones, kind of melancholic, but with a sense of warmth emanating from the house itself. I imagine him, brush in hand, trying to capture the essence of this humble dwelling, maybe late in the day. See the figures walking into the light of the house? The paint is so thin there, just translucent color, it suggests a real tenderness for his subject matter and this quiet way of life. He probably made quick notations, trying to grab the light. It is a very humble image and it reminds me of the work of Lois Dodd; both artists want to record a fleeting moment that might disappear if un-noticed.