Shelving field (On the slope of the mountain) 1914

Martiros Sarian made this drawing of a Shelving field, on the slope of the mountain, in 1914. You see, in this landscape, he's not trying to capture the perfect view; it's more like he's mapping a feeling. The lines are straightforward, kind of like a quick sketch in a notebook. Look at how he's used the pencil, especially around the little herd of goats. Each one is made with just a few strokes, but you can still tell what they are. There's a simplicity that makes you think about what's essential. It reminds me of Cy Twombly in a way, you know? Just a few marks that open up a whole world. Sarian isn't trying to hide the process, and I like that. You can almost see him deciding where to put each line, each goat. It’s like he's inviting us into his way of seeing. And that's what art is, right? A conversation, not a lecture.