Lavinya on the sofa 1948

Mariam Aslamazian made this painting, Lavinya on the Sofa, with oil paints, at some point, we don't know exactly when. What I like here, is how Aslamazian confidently embraces color. The painting's surface has a kind of velvety texture, like you could just sink into the scene. The colors, so bold and joyful, almost vibrate against each other. There's this red in Lavinya's skirt, it’s not just red, it feels alive. It's a little like Matisse, how he plays with flat planes of saturated color to create a mood. Looking at the way Aslamazian handles the folds in the skirt, there's a real sense of form there, but she's not trying to trick us into thinking it's real. It's paint, it’s texture, it's a feeling. Art doesn't always have to make sense. Sometimes, it just has to be felt.