JANSEM (Hovhannes Semerdjian, 9.3.1920 (Turkey)-27.08.2013), painter. NAS RA Foreign member (2002). He and his family settled in Thessaloniki in 1922, they moved to Paris in 1931. Jansem studied at school free of academies of Montparnasse (1934), then he continued his education in the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs. (1939). From 1944 his works were exhibited in Salon des Independants. Some of his works are on national themes («The Armenian woman» (1946), «Armenian wedding» (1947), «Funeral» (1981, National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan), etc.) Jansem’s unique and realistic compositions are full of deep humanism («Family» (1953), «At the market» (1954), «Fishmongers» (1957), «Torchlight procession» (1962), etc.), among his series of paintings are «Venice» (1966), «Dance» (1970), «Bullfight» (1972), «Masquerade»,
«Masks», «Procession» (1987), among his portraits are «Actor A. Quinn» (1955), «Charles Aznavour» (1956), etc. He made colorful and monochrome lithographs, illustrations (books by Cervantes, Baudelaire). In Jansem's paintings yellow-green is often combined with red, green and orange lines. Jansem was elected the President of the Young Artists' Saloon in 1956.
He had exhibitions in different countries of the world. Jansem won many awards, such as Prix Comparaison (1958, Mexico) , prize of the Biennale (1962, Bruges), Panamanian prize «Vahagn» (2002), he was also awarded St. Mesrop Mashtots medal (2002), Legion d'honneur (2003).
Source - «Who is who. The Armenians» encyclopedia, volume 1, chief editor Hovh. Ayvazyan, Yerevan, 2007, p. 456-457 (in Armenian).
See also
the 5th floor,
Tel.: + 37460 71 00 92
E-mail: info@armin.am
© Institute for Armenian Studies of YSU
All rights are reserved. In case of full or partial use of the web-site materials or the citation the reference to www.armeniaculture.am is compulsory.