Poet 1907

Martiros Sarian's "Poet" is made with paint, sometime around the middle of the 20th century, and at first glance, the colours are so enticing, it's like sinking into a dream. The texture here is crucial, Sarian's brushstrokes are so visible. The vertical marks create a sense of depth, as if we’re looking through a curtain of colourful reeds or tall grass. The colours are almost Fauvist, heightened and unreal, but there’s a real sense of place, too, the light filtering through the landscape creating an atmospheric haze. Look at the mountain in the background, it's rendered in soft blues and greys, almost disappearing into the sky. It contrasts with the lively palette in the foreground, the fiery reds, oranges and yellows in the trees, which gives the scene a sense of drama, and it feels like the whole painting is pulsating. "Poet" reminds me of Marsden Hartley's landscapes, that same simplified form, and intense colour. Ultimately, it’s a visual poem, open to interpretation, and filled with endless possibilities.