Landscape or Portrait (Verso view)
Painting on stretched canvas • Attributed to Tigran Matulian (based on Armenian inscription "ՄԱԹՈՒԼՅԱՆ")
Style & Movement
Contemporary Armenian Art, post-Soviet Expressionism
Medium & Technique
Oil or Acrylic on hand-prepared linen/canvas; evidence of a white ground layer visible near the staples.
Creation Period
1996 (dated on the reverse)
Dimensions & Format
52 x 37 cm (Landscape format indicated by the inscription orientation)
Subject Description
Verso image shows the back of a stretched canvas. The inscription is written in Armenian script. Based on the name 'Matulian', the front likely features stylized, poetic, or semi-abstract figurative/landscape imagery common to the Republic of Armenia's contemporary art scene in the 1990s.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Fair - The canvas shows moderate oxidation/browning on the reverse consistent with age and storage. Tension appears slightly loose as indicated by some rippling near corners.
Estimated Market Value
$800 - $1,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$500 - $900 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired directly from the artist or an Armenian gallery (e.g., in Yerevan) in the mid-to-late 1990s. The inscription includes the artist's surname, dimensions, and the date 1996.
Art Historical Significance
Represents the flourishing of Armenian contemporary art following independence in 1991. Tigran Matulian is a recognized figure in this period, known for a lyrical and symbolic aesthetic that blends traditional Armenian identity with modern abstraction.
Notable Features
Handwritten Armenian inscription identifies the creator as 'Matulian' and provides the dimensions '52 x 37'. The use of a simple wooden stretcher and staple-gun fastening reflects typical materials available in the 1990s Caucasian art market.
Condition Issues
Visible foxing or surface dirt on the back of the canvas; fraying edges where the canvas meets the wooden stretchers; potential acidity from the wooden frame affecting the fabric edges.
Conservation Recommendations
Surface cleaning of the reverse; re-tensioning by a professional if the front shows sagging; framing in an archival shadow-box to protect edges while preserving the historical inscription on the back.