Under the trees 1907

Martiros Sarian made this small painting, Under the Trees, with oil on canvas. I love how the strokes of pure color create depth and form at the same time. You can almost feel him building up the image, color by color, like he’s right there with his brush, thinking through each mark. Look closely, and you’ll see how the texture varies across the surface. The trees are built from thick, opaque daubs of orange and blue, while the background is a wash of thinner, more transparent color. The figure in the foreground is a dark silhouette, defined with bold, confident strokes. It’s as if Sarian is interested in how much he can suggest with the least amount of detail, making the materiality of the paint so present. The way Sarian handles paint reminds me of the Fauvist painters like Derain or Vlaminck, who were also experimenting with color and gesture. It is this focus on process, the tangible act of creation, that invites us into a space of endless possibilities.