Gate c. 1940

Sarkis Erganian made this watercolour on paper, "Gate," and though we don't know exactly when, it feels like he conjured it from memory. The soft, washy browns and creams give it an ethereal, dreamlike quality. I'm immediately drawn to the intricate metalwork, delicate swirls that frame the scene. You can see the hand of the artist, each stroke deliberate, yet with a certain looseness that keeps it alive. I can almost imagine Erganian standing before his easel, a quiet determination in his eyes. Maybe he was remembering an old gate in a childhood garden. There's a gentleness to the way he renders the weeping tree and resting sheep, a tenderness that speaks to a deep connection with nature. This piece reminds me of other artists, like Samuel Palmer, who found beauty in simple, pastoral scenes. Artists all learn from each other, don't they? Ultimately, this gate invites us to pause, breathe, and consider what it is we want to let in – and what we want to keep out.