Introduction

Abstract

Here I return to a painting “A Mother and an Artist”by Arshile Gorky—a first-generation survivor of the Armenian genocide. I tell his life history and ask myself the question why this painting has such an emotional impact on my informants. Especially since his surname does not indicate he is an Armenian. (His surname does not end with “ian”.) So why the emotional impact? What does Arshile Gorky stand for or symbolize in the diasporic communities? Why does it has such an impact? The chapter explores both the meaning Armenians derive from the work of Gorky as well give a bird’s view on Gorky’s life.