Artists You Should Know: Martiros Sarian

I had heard of Martiros Sarian as a Symbolist and colorist but, before researching this profile, hadn't known much else about him. As days passed and information was digested, I found myself becoming quite emotionally involved in his life. Sarian was an Armenian who loved his homeland wholeheartedly. Sadly, though, the course of his long life bore witness to many tragic events there. He lived through two world wars, becoming an unwilling citizen of the USSR, shifting (shrinking) Armenian borders and a genocide of which no one speaks. When events became too overwhelming for his poet's soul, he would lay his brush aside for a period of time in order to marshal the inner strength to paint once more.

And yet, despite all of this, his paintings are uniformly joyous, bright and optimistic. He had seen the terrible deeds of which we are capable, and still chose to believe in the powerful beauty of nature and the goodness of mankind. Even when he was too old and frail to paint any longer, he sat, held a pencil and drew uplifting scenes. I came away from my research truly admiring his indomitable spirit.

Tamar Gasparian, a lovely young woman pursuing her Master's in Art History at the Academy of Fine Arts in Yerevan, has my gratitude for getting in touch and suggesting Mr. Sarian. Additionally, she has promised us all a piece on Early Christian Armenian frescoes, which I look forward to with great anticipation - after she's finished with her exams! Tamar, thank you so much. It is my great pleasure to know you.

Today (June 10) in Art History:

Gustave Courbet (French Realist painter), born in 1819