Cliffs 1929

Martiros Sarian made this drawing, Cliffs, using pencil on paper. What strikes me first is the energy in the mark making, a dense network of hatch marks that create a sense of volume and depth, as well as atmosphere. Looking closer, you can see how the texture of the paper comes through, adding a tactile quality to the image. The cliffs are formed of these multiple marks, each one carefully placed to build up the overall form. The density of the marks varies, creating a sense of light and shadow that gives the cliffs a sense of depth and solidity. Notice the small trees on top of the cliffs, they seem to be clinging to the rock face. This image reminds me of drawings by Cezanne, who also used the pencil to construct form through a process of building up layers of marks. Like Cezanne, Sarian seems less interested in representing a specific place than in exploring the process of perception itself. Art is like that, an ongoing conversation between artists across time and space.