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Komitas in Tumanian’s home and these beautiful watercolors...
Profile | Hovhannes Tumanian
Feb. 19, 1869 - March 23, 1923
ProfilePerhaps no author has captivated the hearts and minds of Armenians—young and old alike—as intensely as Hovhannes Tumanian. Often mislabeled as a children’s writer, Tumanian’s “simple” style represented literature that was of, and for, the masses—meant to be consumed by all—regardless of age, class, gender, or education level. No wonder, then, he is considered the national poet of Armenia.
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Komitas in Tumanian’s home
The Tiflis of Tumanian’s time was a teeming hotspot of Armenian culture and literature. For nearly a decade, Tumanian invited many of his fellow literary giants, such as Levon Shant, Avetik Isahakian, and Nikol Aghbalian, into his home to exchange ideas on literature, politics, and art. This writer’s saloon, aptly named “Vernatun” (meaning “garret” in Armenian), left an indelible impression on Armenian culture.
In this 1970s painting by Soviet Armenian painter Dmitry Nalbandian (1906-1993), we see members of Vernatun’s star-studded ensemble, gathered around the piano, admiring the great Komitas.
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'Barekendan'
Artist Anushavan Gasparyan (1914-1986) painted a series of watercolors for a Yerevan publication of Tumanian’s Barekendan. To view more photos from this series, check out this link.
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This interview with an Indian professor...
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This short animation film and a group of London-hyes reciting poetry...
Today, Tumanian’s tongue has reached a crystalline simplicity that approaches Pushkin, and which should be considered one of his highest virtues.
- Vahan Terian <br> (1885-1920)
Attention!