Evening 1973

Petros Malayan made this watercolor painting, Evening, in 1972. Just look at how the buildings emerge from the darkness, like characters stepping onto a stage. You can almost feel the cool evening air and the quiet hum of the city settling down for the night. I can imagine Malayan standing there, brush in hand, trying to capture not just the scene, but also the feeling of the place. I bet he mixed colors on his palette until he found just the right shade to express the mood of the evening, and that the watery brushstrokes bled and blended, creating soft edges and dreamy atmosphere. The pale street light glows softly, casting shadows that dance and flicker. It reminds me of Edward Hopper, and how he could capture the loneliness of a city. Malayan’s work feels like a personal reflection on the beauty and mystery of the everyday. It reminds us that we’re all part of a larger conversation, each of us adding our own voice to the ongoing dialogue of art.