Mother of the artist 1904

Martiros Sarian painted this portrait of his mother in 1904 with what looks like quick strokes of watercolor. The neutral palette makes me think about the quiet moments of artmaking, when you're just trying to capture a feeling. There’s a blurriness to the work, a softness that makes you feel like you're peering into a memory. The brown washes build up the face and body of the subject. Look closely at the way the light hits her face. See how the colors pool and blend? It’s not about precision. It’s about capturing the essence of a person, the way they feel, more than how they look. Sarian’s work reminds me a little of Vuillard, that same intimacy and interest in portraying the domestic sphere, but with a distinctive approach to color. For me, this painting is a reminder that art is not about answers. It's about the questions we ask and the conversations we start.