De Profundis 1919

Yervand Kochar made this painting, De Profundis, using earth-toned oil paints to conjure a figure emerging from the shadows. Imagine the artist standing before the canvas, palette in hand, mixing and blending those browns and grays. What I see in this hunched over figure is an incredible sense of depth and feeling. The hands are clasped tightly, as though holding onto something precious, or maybe just holding on. You can see how the paint is applied in layers, creating this kind of sculptural effect. This really brings the figure to life. As a painter, you know, I think a lot about what other painters were thinking when they made their marks. I feel a kinship with Kochar. It’s like we’re all in conversation across time. It’s about this exchange of ideas, inspiring one another’s creativity, and embracing the ambiguity of it all, searching for meaning in the shadows.