Artwork
Egyptian masks
Egyptian masks is a tempera painting by the Symbolist artist Martiros Saryan. It dates from 1911 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Armenia.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1911, *Egyptian Masks* is a tempera painting by Armenian artist Martiros Saryan. The work belongs to the Symbolist vein of early twentieth‑century art and is part of the National Gallery of Armenia’s collection. It presents a vivid assemblage of stylised masks rendered in bold, saturated hues against a muted, bluish‑gray ground.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features several masks of differing shapes, colours and expressions, some topped with headgear, others bare. By juxtaposing these varied faces, Saryan evokes the ritualistic and theatrical aspects of ancient Egyptian visual culture, inviting contemplation of identity, disguise and the interplay between the visible and the concealed.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, the painting displays thick, confident brushstrokes that give the surfaces a tactile quality. The palette is dominated by bright reds, yellows and blues, set off by a soft, gray‑blue background. The stylised forms and flattened space recall Egyptian reliefs while the collage‑like arrangement reflects Symbolist interests in abstraction and emotional resonance.
History & Provenance
Saryan produced the work after journeys through the Middle East, which left a lasting imprint on his thematic choices. Since its creation, *Egyptian Masks* has remained in Armenia, entering the holdings of the National Gallery of Armenia, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s representation of early modern Armenian painting.
Context
At the turn of the twentieth century, many European and regional artists turned to non‑Western motifs for inspiration, integrating exotic iconography into modernist vocabularies. Saryan’s engagement with Egyptian imagery aligns with this broader trend, while also reflecting his personal quest to forge a distinct national artistic language within the emerging Symbolist movement.
Artist & collection
Artist
Martiros Saryan (Armenian: Մարտիրոս Սարյան; Russian: Мартиро́с Сарья́н; 28 February 1880 – 5 May 1972) was an Armenian painter, People's Artist of the USSR (1960), member of the USSR Academy of Fine Arts (1947),…
