By the sea 1907

Martiros Sarian made this drawing, By the Sea, in 1907, probably with charcoal on paper. The marks are so loose, almost like he’s letting his hand wander across the page. It’s like a dance, not a precise rendering. I love the way the landscape is suggested with just a few lines, like he's only just grabbed it from the corner of his eye. The texture reminds me of memory, how you only remember the key details and the rest is just hazily filled in. Look how the lines describing the foliage on the right are almost scribbled, a frantic energy that contrasts with the calm sea in the distance. Then there's that circle of birds overhead, like a little halo crowning the scene. I am reminded of Marsden Hartley. Both artists share a love of simple, bold forms and a willingness to let the materials speak for themselves. Ultimately, art is about feeling, not just seeing. This drawing invites us to feel the sea breeze and the warmth of the sun, even though it’s just a few marks on paper.