Untitled 2006

Morteza Katouzian made this large painting measuring 120 by 90 cm; a haunting arrangement in umber and black. I imagine Katouzian, brush in hand, carefully layering the paint to conjure the faces, the folds of the fabric, and the emotional weight that seems to permeate the scene. The way the light catches the hands is amazing. There's a real story being told here, of grief, of contemplation. You can see how the artist really labored over the details. Look at the surface: the texture, the way the paint seems to both absorb and reflect light. It gives the piece a depth that draws you in, like a whispered secret. Katouzian reminds us that painting isn't just about depicting a scene, it's about capturing a feeling, an atmosphere, a moment in time. It’s like he’s in conversation with all the other artists who've tried to capture the human condition on canvas.