Аукцион Bidspirit | Karen Smbatyan (Armenian, 1932 -

Karen Smbatyan (Armenian, 1932 - 2008) - Karen Smbatyan (Armenian, 1932 - 2008), ”Still Life with open window”, oil on canvas, signed and dated 1988 l. l. and on reverse, 100 x 80 cm. Notes Karen Smbatyan was an Armenian painter whose work explored themes of national identity and the destiny of the Armenian people. Smbatyan studied at the Panos Terlemezyan State Academy of Fine Arts in Yerevan. He interrupted his studies to serve in the Soviet army, stationed in Estonia, where he continued to paint. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, his work adhered to principles of high realism, capturing authentic representations of nature, everyday life, and portraiture (including Makuyk, 1954; The Sailor Nikolay Blokhin, 1954; Ian Paulianki, 1959). The 1970s marked a period of formal exploration, with Smbatyan delving into color and composition in works such as Shell (1975), Amulet (1977), and Indian Jug (1975). His mature style is distinguished by vibrant color and a striking simplicity of composition—an approach he articulated in his own words: ”The most luxurious luxury is simplicity, ” and ”A painting is complete only when the unnecessary things are removed.” Notable works from this later period include portraits of Varuzhan Vardanyan (1983) and Mshetsi (1989), as well as landscapes such as The Garden (1994) and Autumn (1999). Smbatyan's works are held in the National Gallery of Armenia, the Richard Manukean Gallery in Detroit, the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University, and in private collections internationally.