Sketch of scene design 1925

Curator: Editor: This watercolor by Martiros Sarian, created in 1925 and titled "Sketch of Scene Design", strikes me as quite intriguing. The architecture possesses an Orientalist quality, yet it also feels…unfinished. What catches your eye about the materials and the way Sarian used them? Curator: It's interesting you pick up on the “unfinished” quality. For me, it speaks volumes about the artist's process. Look at the fluid application of the watercolor, the way the pigments pool and blend. Sarian isn't trying to create a perfectly rendered image; he’s exploring the potential of the medium itself. How does the "sketch"-like quality contribute to your understanding of the artwork? Editor: That makes sense! Because it's a sketch, it feels less about the finished product and more about the act of creation itself. Were watercolor sketches a common method for stage design at the time, or was Sarian pushing boundaries? Curator: Excellent question. Watercolor sketches were indeed part of the design process, but Sarian, influenced by Impressionism, seems less concerned with precise representation and more interested in capturing the mood and atmosphere of the scene. He focuses on light and color. Notice, for example, the interplay between the cool blues and the warm browns, how they define the space. And considering his Armenian background, the Orientalist elements may also relate to his perception and cultural positioning within this scene. How might his background have influenced his artistic process and the choices of materials used in this piece? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn’t considered his cultural background in relation to his choices of watercolor and the sketched format. It encourages us to examine not only the ‘what’ of art, but also the ‘how’ and the ‘why.’ Thanks for your perspective! Curator: Absolutely! And examining the "how" of art helps us understand the labor, the materiality, and the creative intention that produced this work. I also learned a lot throughout this dialogue. Thank you!