Autumn Day 1973

Petros Malayan made this painting, Autumn Day, most likely with oil on canvas, judging by the muted color palette and the way the paint seems to blend. I wonder what it was like for Malayan, in that moment of painting, standing before the canvas, brush in hand, trying to capture the essence of this urban landscape. The way the buildings huddle together feels so intimate and warm. The trees – those bare branches scratched onto the surface – feel like they’re reaching out, connecting the earth to the sky. There is a yellow house, too, which seems to echo the works of other artists who have played with urban landscapes, like some of Fairfield Porter’s paintings for instance. It is as if Malayan is conversing with other painters across time. Ultimately, painting is an act of exploration – an exchange of ideas between artists and across generations.