Still life 1953

Martiros Sarian’s still life presents a dense arrangement of objects painted with bold colors and expressive brushstrokes, creating a lively visual experience. The composition, dominated by a potted plant with vibrant green leaves, is further energized by the scattered oranges and tableware across the canvas. Sarian’s handling of paint emphasizes texture and form, giving the objects a sculptural presence. The artist flattens the picture plane and uses color to define space, rather than traditional perspective. Notice how the bright oranges and blues create a tension, pushing and pulling the viewer’s eye across the composition. Sarian's expressive style, with its bold application of color and simplified forms, departs from academic realism to explore the inherent qualities of paint and color. Consider how this vibrant and flattened space challenges traditional notions of representation, instead prioritizing the emotional and expressive potential of painting itself. In doing so, it contributes to the broader modernist project of redefining the boundaries of artistic expression.