Sevan. Fisherman 1964

Petros Malayan made this painting of fishermen in 1967 with what looks like watercolor or gouache, maybe even ink. The way he’s used the brush feels really immediate, like he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment. I love how the dark lines create these defined shapes, almost like stained glass, but instead of light shining through, it's the color that gives it life. Looking at the rocks on the shore, each one is outlined, but they're not trying to be realistic; they're more like symbols of rocks. It's a great example of how art can be about ideas and feelings, not just copying what we see. Notice the fisherman in the middle – his face is so expressive with just a few strokes. Malayan reminds me a bit of Marsden Hartley, another artist who wasn’t afraid to use bold outlines and colors to convey emotion. It’s like they're both having a conversation across time about how to make a painting that really *feels* something, rather than just looks like something.