:18:06
- Arshile Gorky remains one
of the most influential figures
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in modern art.
:18:12
His most famous painting,
'The Artist and His Mother,'
:18:15
is based on a photograph
that was taken in 1912;
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the only image that exists
of the artist's early life
:18:21
in his native land.
:18:25
Gorky is seen holding
a bunch of small flowers
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as a fragrant gift
to his absent father,
:18:30
the intended recipient
of this remarkable photograph.
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- I'm confused.
:18:37
Had Gorky changed his name
by this point?
:18:39
- No.
:18:40
He changed it in his twenties,
:18:42
after his arrival
to the United States.
:18:44
- Celia, sit down.
:18:47
- Gorky looks prematurely solemn.
:18:49
With almond eyes and oval face,
:18:52
his hair combed neatly
to the side,
:18:54
Shushan looks bravely
at the camera,
:18:57
challenging her absent husband...
- Challenging?
:19:00
Why would you say that?
:19:02
Isn't it obvious he knew
:19:03
the Armenians were about to be
massacred? He went to America
:19:07
to prepare a life
for his family.
:19:09
They wanted to send him
a photograph
:19:10
to let him know
they're still alive.
:19:12
There's nothing challenging...
- Gorky never understood
:19:14
why his father did not return.
:19:17
- Celia, just sit down. Come on.
:19:19
- Aren't you confusing Gorky's
father with your dead husband?
:19:23
I mean, your first dead husband.
:19:26
The one who was shot
by the police. The terrorist.
:19:30
- Sit down.
:19:32
Sit down. We're here
to listen to this lecture.
:19:35
- Let's go.
:19:53
- 'The Artist and His Mother'
is not simply a painted version
:19:56
of a photograph.
:19:58
The differences underline
the expressive elements