Ayrivank red stones 1956

Mariam Aslamazian made this painting of red stones, probably outdoors, using oil paint. You can see the marks of the brush, dragged, dabbed, and laid on with attention to how the light hits each plane of the rocks. It feels like she started with a structure, but then let the colors play over the surface, creating an almost abstract pattern. The texture is built up with these strokes, not super thick, but enough to give a sense of the physical presence of the rocks. The color palette is earthy, with reds and browns dominating, but there are also touches of green and purple that add vibrancy. See that spot of orange near the center, surrounded by blues and grays? It almost vibrates with energy. It's a small detail, but it animates the whole piece. This painting reminds me a bit of Cezanne's landscapes, in the way it breaks down forms into planes of color. Both artists seem interested in the act of perception, how we translate the world into something we can understand, and maybe, something beautiful too.