The self-portrait․ Three Ages

The self-portrait ‘Three Ages’ (1942) has a special place in the works of the artist. The principle characteristic to cinematograph when different time frames are united in one composition is employed here. The self-portrait is also created with the aim to reflect different periods of life. On the right Sarian depicted himself when he is romantic and dreamy, with rosy ideas about the future.
On the left we can see a middle-aged man who is exploring the world around him. In the centre of the picture a mature wise man is depicted, who is thinking about the life he’s past through. His penetrating look is directed at the viewer. An interesting thing is that the artist used his picture taken in 1910 to reflect his youth, and his ‘Self-portrait with mask’ (1933) to portray his middle age. All three portraits are executed against the background of Armenian landscape crowned with barely visible tops of Mt.Ararat.
Motherland, Armenia, home – these are the values that Sarian protected with his most powerful weapon: with art, inspiring his three images, his three ages.