NEW NATIONAL ART IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 19^th CENTURY

At the beginning of the 19th century and following the unification of Eastern Armenia with Russia, Hagop Hovnatanian (taught by his father) in Tbilisi, created the new national Armenian art. He excelled in portraiture and miniatures.

 ROMANTICISM IN ARMENIAN ART

 Two original Armenian artists were at the origin of romanticism in Armenian arts: Stephanos Nersisian was the first painter to introduce romanticism into Armenian art, both in the homeland and abroad. Hovaness Aivazovsky introduced romanticism and lyricism through his seascape paintings, maritime/naval themes and national landscape subjects. 

 NATIONAL REALISM IN ARMENIAN ART

Gevorg Bashinjagian was the first Armenian artist to introduce realism in Armenian art, followed by Stephanos Nersissian ,Harutun Shishmanian, Vardkes Sureniants, Manuk Mahtesian, Khachatur Ter-Minasian), Manuk Alajalov, David Okroyants, Grigor Gabrielian, Mkrtich Chivanian, Simon Hakobian, Umed Peizat, George Tamadian and Aslan D’Abro.

  IN THE LATE 19^th CENTURY AND EARLY 20^th CENTURY

Painting: Entry to Jerusalem by Gayaneh Khatchaturian, 1985

Among the very first leaders of that era who excelled in landscape, portrait and medieval architectural themes were: Stephan Agajanian, Yenok Nazarian, Hmayak Artsatpanian, Panos Terlemezian, Hmayak Hakobian, Zakar Zakarian, Arsen Shapanian, Vartan Mokhokian and Arshak Fetwajian.

 IMPRESSIONISM, QUASI-IMPRESSIONISM AND SYMBOLISM IN ARMENIAN ART

Impressionism, quasi-impressionism and symbolism were introduced by numerous artists in the homeland and in the Diaspora. Among the pioneers were: Egishe Tadevosian, Charles Adamian, Vahram Gaifejian, Hovsep Pushman, Martiros Sarayan, Sargis Khachadurian, Hovaness Alkhazian and Georgie Yakulov.

 RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRADITIONAL RUSSIAN SCHOOL OF ART

Among the most visible advocates of the traditional Russian school of art (Style and not ideologies) were: Sarian, Agajanian, Terlemezian, Sarkissian, Urartu, Gurjian, Kojoyan and Stepanian.

 IDEOLOGY IN ARMENIAN ART

The leaders of that movement were: Zardarian, Savayan, Isabekian, Avetissian, Safarian, Nikogosian, Chubarian, Siravian, Avetissian, Nalbandian, Sharambian, Vardenian, Abegian, Bashbeuk-Millikian, Gulikekhvian, Bekarian, Yesayan and Aslamazian.

  ARMENIAN GRAPHIC ART

Painting: Entitled by Willian Saroyan, 1963

At the end of the 19^th century and at the dawn of the 20^th century Agaton Hovnatanian and Hovannes Katanian  introduced graphic art into the Armenian national art, followed by Shishmanian, Sureniants, Chahine, Polat, Kojoyan, Terlemezian, Gaiferjian, Gurjian, Aghajanian, Tadevosian, Arakelian, Yesayan, Fetwajian, Kebabjian, Khojabekian, Sharbajian, Yeritsian, Okroyants, Urartu, Gharibian, Abeghian, Arakelian, Rashmajian, Simonian, Gurjian, Mamajanian, Kochar,Artouchian, Khachvankian, Petrosian, Gharibian, Dermidjian, Ayvazian, Mamian, Hunanian, Khachikian, Isabekian, Khatchatrian, Katanian, Shishmanian, Arakelian, terlemezian and Gaiferjian.

  AFTER WORLD WAR TWO: INDIVIDUALISM VERSUS TRADITIONALISM

Painting: Genocide by Jean Kazandjian, 1981

Short after world war two, a galaxy of outstanding Armenian artists emerged in the universe  of contemporary Armenian art. Galleries directors and museums curators rushed to exhibit their work. Many of them became celebrities overnight. Among the most successful Armenian artists of the beginning of the post world war two were:  Rouben Najarian, Hagop Khoubesserian, Arto Tchakmakjian, Manuel Tolegian, Leone Minassian, Shart, Jirayr Zortahya, Richard Jeranian, Dikran Daderian, Paul Giragossian (He became the leader of the modern art movement in Lebanon), Amaduni, Assadour Bezdikian, Jean Kazandjian, Vahe Barsumian, Alexander Birejiklian, Zadik Zadikian, Herman Vahramian and Henrig Bedrossian. Between 1950 and 1975, a new wave of Armenian artists who tried to free their muse from traditional schools and the Russian influence, came to life. Some of those artists have studied on the hands of famous Russian artists in Moscow, Odessa, Kiev and other parts of the former Soviet Union. While, many others were either self-taught and or learned on the hands of Armenian artists who have never painted under the influence of the Russian, European or traditional Armenian artists.

Painting: Three Figures by Anatoli Papian

At that time in history, Armenian artists in many parts of the world began to express their individual style (s) according to their personal understanding of contemporary art, or by virtue of the direct influence of their immediate surroundings. In that sense, they freed themselves from the “realistic socialist art movement” of Mother Russia. The orthodox Russian-Armenian concept of art was replaced by individualism in contemporary Armenian art.  Some of those free-spirited Armenian artists were: Sergei Paradjanov, Gayane Khachadurian, Bedros Kontradjian, Harutiun Galentz, Minas Avetissian, Lavina Bajbeuk-Mellikian, as well as: R. Khatchatrian, G. Khanjian, A. Bekarian, S. Rashmadjian, A. Ananikian, A. Melkonian, R. Atoyan, S. Muradian, V. Khorenian, P. Sevak and M. Petrossian.

Painting: Still life by Hrant Gulbenk

Another group of leading Armenian artists broke completely their ties with traditionalism. This group abolished the old dogmatic art to establish the notion of “independent art” based upon individual exploration and new approaches to traditional and contemporary arts. Among the most famous ones were: F. Manukian, N. Avetisian, A. Avoyan,  M. Hovannesian, R. Hovnatanian, A. Sarkisian, K. Nigarian, A. Papikian,  A. Grigorian, O. Petrosian, A. Gevorkian, S. Petrosian, A. Petrosian, H. Tadevosian,  E. Kharazian, A. Parsamian and G. Khachatrian.

Another wave of leading Armenian artists was added to the roster of innovative painters emphasizing on “individualism” in art. Among the most visible ones were: Zulum Grigorian, Sargis Mouradian,  Rouben Adalian,  Edljard Artzrunian, Hovaness Sharambekian, Levon Kojoyan, Alexander Grigorian, Nikhoghos Kotanjian, Souren Sarafian, Vruyr Galstian, Mkrtich Sedrakian, Grigor Aghasian and Anatoli Papian.