Pa. German Plate c. 1937

Charles Garjian's Pa. German Plate shows us a decorative plate illustrated with gouache and graphite. Imagine Garjian absorbed in the act of painting, his hand moving to create a pale green surface marked with copper-red tulips. The paint feels thin, watery, almost like a veil over the graphite under-drawing that brings definition to the leaves. I wonder what Garjian was thinking as he worked? His painting shares something with the floral exuberance of folk art. I see him studying old examples, admiring the skill, and then translating this to his own style, picking out the key elements and adding his unique perspective. It’s fascinating to think about artists responding to other artists across time, like echoes in a visual conversation. This piece embraces ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own interpretations to the table. There’s an openness here that reflects the ongoing, evolving nature of art itself.