Street in Cairo 1911

Martiros Sarian made this painting, Street in Cairo, with oil on canvas, but when exactly, we’re not sure. The ochre, terracotta, and dusky blues create an atmosphere that feels both sun-drenched and a little mysterious. I’m drawn to how Sarian simplifies forms into bold shapes, which gives the painting a slightly flattened, almost dreamlike quality. Look at the way he renders the figures: the women are draped in black, their faces are strikingly present, gazing right out at us. The paint application here is interesting, it's neither too thick nor too thin, but just right, allowing the colors to breathe and the forms to remain soft and undefined. I am particularly interested in the way that Sarian has brought the foreground figures into focus using the colour black, which helps define the buildings behind as light filled and bright. This piece reminds me a bit of Matisse's travels in North Africa, that same interest in capturing the light and atmosphere of a place through color and form, but with Sarian’s own unique sensibility. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas and impressions.