Big eastern still life 1915

Martiros Sarian’s ‘Big eastern still life’ is a colourful spread of objects and motifs. Imagine him standing at his easel, brush in hand, circling the canvas, laying down each stroke with bright colours: yellows, blues and reds that come together in an exuberant composition. I wonder what Sarian was thinking as he painted these masks, fruits, vases, and figures. They appear as memories, dreams, or impressions gathered from a culture other than his own. The surface is so flat, so anti-illusionistic, that everything seems to exist on the same plane, as if they are cut-out shapes floating on the painting’s surface. Look at the way he's painted the curved stripes in the background. The colours vibrate against one another. This is not just a decorative element; it creates an atmosphere that holds the whole thing together. Sarian’s ability to synthesize diverse influences into a personal language makes him a compelling figure. His work reminds us that artists don’t work in isolation; rather, they are constantly in dialogue with the art of the past, present and future.