Portrait of Dmitri Shostakovich 1963

Editor: This is Martiros Sarian’s "Portrait of Dmitri Shostakovich" painted in 1963. The oil paint gives the face a kind of raw, immediate presence… but also an undeniable sense of melancholy. What do you see in this portrait? Curator: The glasses, of course, are unavoidable; they create an intellectual barrier but also a focal point. It's interesting how the lens frames the eyes – or perhaps obscures them. In the context of the Soviet era, were these glasses a symbol of intellectualism and access to western thought? Were they, possibly, a mark of vulnerability for Shostakovich? Editor: Vulnerability? I wouldn't have thought that. Curator: Look at the unfinished state of the canvas itself. The hurried brushstrokes create an urgency, but also a certain… withholding. The darkness swirling around his head suggests a burdened mind. The muted palette further emphasizes that emotional weight. What does this tell us about Sarian’s perception, not just of Shostakovich the composer, but Shostakovich the man living in that time? Editor: I guess I was focusing too much on just the face. The symbolism you're pointing out with the colors and unfinished areas… it all speaks to internal struggle. I am used to seeing socialist realism presented in bright, uplifting tones. Curator: Exactly. Think of the subtle acts of resistance this portrait contains, using symbolism rather than direct critique. Editor: It gives a whole new layer to what I initially saw as just a sad portrait. Thank you, I really appreciate your thoughts on it. Curator: And I appreciate you pointing out the emotive potential from the very beginning. It helps us to access the deeper meanings.