Armenian dance 1915

Martiros Sarian made Armenian Dance, a small gouache on cardboard, early in the 20th century. What strikes me is the way he’s gotten the most from a restrained palette. It's all browns and blacks, yet it feels joyful. You get the sense that Sarian didn’t overwork it. There’s a real confidence in the process. Look closely, and you’ll notice the thin, washy quality of the paint. Sarian hasn’t tried to hide his working. In the dancers' costumes and the musicians' faces, the brushstrokes are visible and direct. He has given the sense of a lively scene without complicating the details. Notice the repeated curved shapes – in the musicians' hats, the trees behind them, and even in the swirling patterns on the dancer's skirt. It all creates a sense of rhythm and movement. Sarian was part of a generation of artists grappling with how to be modern while staying connected to their cultural roots. Like Matisse, who he admired, Sarian simplified forms and heightened colors to create a sense of emotional intensity. In the end, it's the feeling that lingers – a sense of warmth, community, and celebration.