Fromborg, Poland 1973

"Fromborg, Poland" by Petros Malayan, whose life spanned much of the 20th century, captures a townscape through a lens of shadow and geometric form. Malayan's Armenian heritage informs the work; his family were victims of the Armenian genocide. The dark tonality and fragmented composition evoke feelings of displacement and loss. The geometric forms suggest the influence of Cubism, but here they convey a sense of fragmentation, reflecting the disruption of cultural identity and the erasure of history. The scene is devoid of people, emphasizing absence and perhaps the artist's feelings of alienation. Consider Malayan’s words, in his artist statement he said that he strives to "capture the inexpressible, to give form to the intangible." The town’s looming structures and muted palette reflect an unsettled world still reeling from the aftermath of conflict. The emotional power lies in the artist’s ability to turn a seemingly simple landscape into a profound meditation on memory, identity, and the enduring impact of historical trauma.