Little Lake 1972

Petros Malayan created this somber landscape, painted in 1972, using watercolor. The cluster of simple houses huddled together evokes a sense of communal shelter. The archetype of the house, a universal symbol of home and security, appears throughout art history, from ancient Roman frescoes to the Dutch Golden Age paintings of domestic interiors. Yet, here, the houses are muted, almost blending into the dark hills. They remind us of the human desire for a safe haven, a motif echoed through time. Think of similar architectural forms depicted by artists like Van Gogh, where houses are imbued with emotional weight. The psychological undercurrent suggests more than just physical structure, engaging our subconscious desires for safety, warmth, and belonging. The image resonates with our collective memory of "home" and its deep-seated, often conflicting, emotions. This symbol persists, shifting in tone, but always echoing our fundamental needs.