His Most Famous Painting (The Artist and His Mother) - Arshile Gorky

Renowned American painter Arshile Gorkythe unevenness away, before applying the subsequent
(1904-1948) was an innovative artist who added newcoat, giving it an ivory smooth finish. This work was an
dimensions to the conventional art scene. His creativeartistic recreation of an original black and white picture
career can be divided into various phases and styles.of his mother and him, dated 1912.
Arshile sequentially adopted 'Impressionism,'In "The Artist and His Mother," Gorky removed the
'Post-impressionism,' and 'Cubism,' before eventuallyfloral pattern of his mother's dress, painting it pure
venturing into 'Surrealism.' His adroit creativity and fertilewhite to symbolize her sacred heart. She is shown
imagination made his art the most consequentialseated in the same posture as in the original
inspiration for 'Abstract Expressionism.' Gorky'sphotograph. In the representation of his own figure, he
masterwork, "The Artist and His Mother" is consideredhas done away with some minor details, such as the
one of the most powerfully emotional works everbuttons of his overcoat, the handkerchief, the details of
produced.the flowers, and the shoe type. The entire piece is
The understanding of this piece cannot be completemade in earthy overtones, which along with the sad
without knowing the life history of Arshile Gorky. At aand the expressive eyes of the duo, is the
tender age, he, along with rest of his family of threerepresentative of the ordeal and the endless agony
sisters and mother, was deserted by his father, whothey were undergoing then. In fact, the eyes in the
fled under political pressure. Gorky tried to flee topainting carry greater pain than the original picture, an
Russia with his entire family to avoid being the victimsembodiment of the afflictions that they suffered after
of the 'Armenian Genocide' in 1915. Malnutrition struckit was shot. Inspired by the structure of lips he saw in
his family during a 'death march,' ordered by theone of the stone reliefs at a local church, Arshile
anarchist Ottoman Empire, through the Syrian Desertmanipulated the shape and the position of his mother's
and later due to the lack of resources. In theirlips a bit. Another significant aspect of the work is the
penurious state, Gorky's mother died of hunger in 1919,hands, which are 'whitewashed' and 'Symbolically'
a loss that he could not get over throughout his life. Toremoved. It is left open to discussion, as to what Gorky
helplessly see his mother dying in his arms became thewanted to convey through it. Considering his sensitivity
greatest influence in his work as an artist and in thetowards the portrayal of his mother, it is believed to
generation of "The Artist and His Mother."signify that he had become deprived of the loving
Gorky painted two versions of "The Artist and Histouch of his mother's hand forever.
Mother." He started both the versions in 1926, with oneFrom the sheer dedication and efforts Gorky made,
finishing in 1936 (currently at Whitney Museum ofhis paintings, including "The Artist and His Mother"
Modern Art, New York) and the other one in 1942centering on his mother are exemplary of their
(currently at National Gallery of Art, Washington). Thesentimental value for him. He wrote to his sister
1936 version gained greater recognition. It is mediumVartoosh in October 11, 1946, "Vartoosh dear, my
sized, oil on canvas portrait set in 60" X 50" frame.Armenian portraits you understand well, I am sure - for
One of the most distinguished features of the paintingeyes are the soul of portraiture, the prime
is that there are hardly any visible brushstrokes. Gorkycommunication between artist and those who view his
adopted a very tedious process to create this work.work.
After drying a coat of paint, he would carefully scrape