Boy of Samarkand

Hovsep Pushman enjoyed wide acclaim even early in his career. The Armenian born painter developed a distinct style often referred to as Oriental Mysticism, but his subjects rarely defined any conventional label. Collectors and critics alike held the artist with high regard, demonstrated by his successful one-man show in 1932 at Grand Central Art Galleries which sold out before the end of the first day. The still-life genre is most prolific in Pushman's oeuvre and his rare figural works, such as Boy of Samarkand, present the artist's audience with exceptionally unique insight into Pushman's rendering of color, light, and form. In the present work, Pushman has applied bold strokes of pink, yellow, purple and blue to create a vivid layering of color and texture that combine to produce an exceptional composition. The thoughtful expression captured by the sitter's eyes immediately engages the viewer and makes Boy of Samarkand no static portrait, but rather a spiritual and complete work of exquisite beauty executed with inimitable technique.