Easter lamb 1914

Niko Pirosmani painted 'Easter Lamb' on oilcloth, a common material for his paintings, sometime around 1914. Pirosmani was a self-taught artist, and this comes through in the directness of his style, which draws heavily on the traditions of Georgian folk art. Yet it is also unique. We might ask ourselves: what does it mean to paint an Easter lamb alongside a rolled cake? The lamb could be a symbol of sacrifice, but the cake suggests celebration. Pirosmani’s paintings often served as signboards for taverns and shops, a function that surely shaped his visual language. The art market in Georgia during this period was deeply intertwined with the social and economic life of Tbilisi. Further research into the changing class structures of the city might illuminate how Pirosmani gave visual form to the society around him.