Trees in blossom 1910

Martiros Sarian made this painting, Trees in Blossom, with what looks like oil paint, and a real love of process. There’s a push and pull between representation and abstraction here, right? Look how the colors are laid down in these rhythmic strokes, especially on the right tree. The paint’s applied pretty thickly, not smoothed out or blended, but built up in layers, creating texture and depth. You can almost feel Sarian’s hand moving, responding to the forms he’s creating as he goes. Each stroke is a decision, a little dance between eye and hand. I love the way that these brushstrokes create almost a topographical map of the tree canopy. This painting feels connected to folks like Matisse, who are all about color and form. But Sarian brings his own flavor, a unique vision. It’s like he’s inviting us to see the world through his eyes, and maybe, just maybe, to start seeing the world in a new light ourselves.