Fairy tale. Garden of Eden. 1904

Martiros Sarian made this watercolour painting of a fairytale Garden of Eden using a cool palette of blues, purples, greens, and oranges, with fluid washes of colour. I can just imagine Sarian beginning with a light sketch, layering translucent washes of colour to build up this dream-like composition. The paint is applied thinly, allowing the white of the paper to shine through, creating a luminous effect. See the large tree with its scribbled foliage—it's like a symbol of life and growth. I can imagine Sarian feeling transported by a sense of innocence and possibility. The animals are depicted in such a simplified, almost childlike way. It reminds me of folk art traditions. This kind of simplified figuration can be seen in the work of other modern painters too, like Henri Rousseau. I love how the paint seems to flow and merge, giving the scene a sense of movement and constant flux. Painting can be a journey, and in this one, Sarian takes us to a magical place, sparking our imaginations with every brushstroke.