Self-portrait

Rendered in oil, the portrait combines a realistic handling of the figure with a more expressive, colour‑rich treatment of the surrounding scenery. Saryan’s brushwork balances fine detail in the facial features with looser, atmospheric strokes that convey the texture of the landscape.

Created during the turbulent years of World War II, the painting entered the National Gallery of Armenia’s holdings shortly after its completion. It has remained in the institution’s permanent collection, serving as a reference point for Saryan’s later works.

Saryan, born in 1880 in Nakhichevan‑on‑Don, helped establish the modern Armenian national school of painting. His career spanned the Soviet period, during which he led the Artists’ Union of Soviet Armenia (1945‑1951). Frequent journeys across Armenia and the Middle East informed his palette and compositional choices, evident in the landscape that frames this self‑portrait.