Saghmosavank 1973

Petros Malayan made this painting of Saghmosavank with what looks like watercolour or gouache—maybe both—in 1983. It's like he mixed all the colours together in one big pot of grey, but somehow, that makes the church seem even more majestic. I can imagine Malayan outside in the Armenian countryside, squinting at the ancient monastery in the distance. Maybe he started with a quick sketch, trying to nail down the shapes and shadows. I always think it’s a big challenge when an artist decides what to leave out. He’s really captured the weight of those stone buildings, the way they seem to grow right out of the landscape. Look at the dark strokes he’s used to define the edges of the walls and roofs. It’s like he's saying, "This place has been here forever, and it's not going anywhere.” It reminds me of a Morandi painting, those quiet still lifes with bottles and jars. Both artists are finding something profound in the everyday, and it gives me a sense of peace. Painting is this ongoing conversation between artists across time and place.