Olshtin, Kostel 1991

Petros Malayan made this painting, Olshtin, Kostel, with oil on canvas, and it’s a lesson in understated beauty. Look at how the muted palette—ochres, grays, and blacks—creates this kind of hushed atmosphere, like a secret whispered in a monastery. It's all about process. The surface has this incredible, almost scrubbed quality, you can practically feel the hand of the artist working the paint into the canvas. Take a moment to focus on the architectural detail to the left of the painting. See how the brushstrokes aren’t trying to hide anything? There’s a honesty to how Malayan lets the paint sit, thick in some places, almost transparent in others. It's like he's inviting us into his studio, showing us his process, and that to me, is what makes it so compelling. Malayan’s got a bit of a Cezanne vibe, don’t you think? Both artists aren’t afraid to leave things unresolved, to let the painting breathe and exist as a record of its making. It’s not about perfection, it’s about the journey.