Interest in Eastern culture was a determining in the development of European and Russian art of XX century. But in the works Saryan, painter of Armenian descent, turning to the East and became an important stage in self-knowledge. Desire to learn the world of the East and of itself, as part of the world, guided by the artist during travels to Egypt (1911) and Middle Eastern countries - Turkey (Constantinople, 1910), Persia (1913).
"I had a purpose - to understand the East, to find its characteristic features, to further substantiate their quest in the painting - the artist wrote. - I wanted to convey the realism of the East, to find a convincing way an image of this world ... to reveal its new artistic comprehension. " ("From My Life", p.99).
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During the creation of works on Oriental themes are fully disclosed coloristic gift of the artist. Daily Life East Street becomes Saryan basis scenic discoveries.
"I have lived in Istanbul for almost two months and during this time worked well - says Saryan. - The biggest concern for me represented the street, the rhythm of her life, a bright crowd and dogs ... living here entire family packs. " ("From My Life", p.102). During this period, Saryan wrote exclusively in tempera on a white dense cardboard, summarizing each film their most vivid impressions. "... When something failed, I again went to the same area to deepen their impressions, getting a new momentum for self ... before me there was a problem - perhaps more clear and concise to pass on a cardboard scorching heat of sunlight and the related contrast of colors . ("From My Life", pp. 102). Trying to recreate real life unfolding East, Saryan increases the scale of their songs, which builds on the same plane. The scope and depth is achieved by contrasting blue shadows that accompany smooth sailing for the orange-yellow street figures of women in the burqa or the bevy of dogs acquiring incredible color shades in the light of a glowing sun.
On his return from Constantinople Saryan presented his new works at the exhibition "Moscow Association of Artists." Painting "Wisteria", "fruit shop" and then "Street. Noon "were purchased Tretyakov Gallery. This was the first time acquired a gallery of young artist-innovator. Saryan's paintings exhibited in Rome in the autumn of 1911, aroused a great interest in art circles.
Trip to Egypt enriched creativity Saryan new works, which became a vivid expression of his distinctive style. In Egypt, the artist most impressed inextricable link ancient culture with modernity. "When you exit the Bulak museum can be seen here on the street, people who like and were the artist's model, from which the carved sculptures exhibited in the museum. They have the same type face, the gestures, the way to go with raised shoulders ... It was as if they went straight from the depths of millennia ... and these people come right in today with the wonderful monument, erected by their ancestors at the dawn of human civilization. " ("From My Life", pp. 120).
The idea of eternity and immortality of the spirit, embodied in Egyptian art, was consonant with the worldview Saryan, who believed deeply in what a person does not die, for he is - by nature. Masks, brought an artist from Egypt, became a symbol of his creative spirit of eternal life.
In 1912, Saryan again sent to Armenia, this time in the north-west of its areas (Ardanuch, Ardwyn, Ardahan). Here, in contrast to the Yellow Sea, the Egyptian desert, where the contrasts of green and blue were especially harsh, the artist's eye caught a softer, muted ratio typical for the area of paint. Pictures of the Mount Abul and passing camels "(National Gallery of Armenia)," Seller greens "," Morning. Green Mountains, and others represent new thematic and coloristic experiments of the artist.
One of the paintings on the theme of Constantinople in 1912, participated in the second post-impressionist exhibition in the Grafton Gallery in London.
In 1913, Saryan traveled to Persia. The most interesting place for artists was the city bazaar. It was possible to observe the rhythm of life? This colorful country, where people seemed to be frozen for a moment under the influence of a hookah. But work on the site Saryan was not always possible. Also attracted the attention of the artist's book, illustrated with miniatures. Incorporating experiences about life and culture? this country, the artist has created several composite? Persian paintings on the theme already in his Moscow studio.
"Sarian only at the beginning of the creative implementation. But the fact that he has given so far, it is extremely important because it puts a new face in our beautiful on the East and shows that heartless ... Orientalism ended "- wrote a famous poet and critic Voloshin in the first major critique of Saryan placed in 1913 in Apollo, the most authoritative art magazine Russia in those years.
("On Saryan, p.63-64).