The portrait of boy 1970

Editor: Here we have Mariam Aslamazian’s oil painting, "The Portrait of Boy," created in 1970. I'm immediately drawn to the subject's intense gaze. There is a quiet resolve, but also a sadness there. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Beyond the boy's gaze, which you rightly noted, observe the pointed white cap he is wearing. To me, this seemingly simple hat, given the period and cultural context of Soviet Nonconformist art, carries coded meaning. It speaks of innocence perhaps, but also, through its starkness, possibly purity of thought and belief against the weight of conformity. The dark tonality of the face in contrast further emphasises the tension of bearing individual identity within a collectivist society. Does that give you a new perspective? Editor: It does. So the cap isn't just a hat, it is more about resisting something... Can you expand on the role of "sadness" I see here? Curator: Sadness can often symbolise a longing for something lost or unattainable, and during the Soviet era, especially within Nonconformist circles, this frequently mirrored desires for individual freedom or spiritual expression that were stifled by the state. How does this relate to a general feeling that emerges from the painting to you? Editor: I get it. So, in the face of oppression, the subject expresses sorrow and defiance. Knowing the context gives the portrait a new depth and makes me think about all the hidden layers. Curator: Precisely. It allows us to access some small shard of history and understand its psychological implications for that period. Every image becomes a repository of complex feelings. Editor: It makes one rethink the potential symbolic implications of something seemingly mundane. Thank you.