Etude: "hero's mother" 1947

Mariam Aslamazian made this group portrait painting, “Etude: "hero's mother"”, with oil paint on canvas. Her handling of the brush is so forthright. It is as if she really wants us to see how she’s putting the paint down. The way she models the faces, with these simple tonal blocks, suggests an interest in the process itself. I love the earthiness of the palette here. The ochres and reds and browns are the colors of soil, like the painting grew out of the ground. It has this wonderful texture, and a physicality that’s really palpable. There is a directness and honesty in her mark-making. Look at the zig-zagging lines of the background and how they contrast with the figures. It's like they are being protected by the land. Aslamazian’s paintings remind me of Fernand Léger, with their bold forms and simplified shapes. It feels as though we are witnessing an artistic conversation, a constant cycle of influence and inspiration. And like the best art, it doesn’t offer easy answers, it invites us to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the table.