The 'Self-Portrait' is Original: Ministry of Education and Science Responds to Ruben Kocharyan's Statement

On November 20, during a press conference organized by Ruben Kocharyan, the son of Yervand Kocharyan, he expressed the opinion that the 'Self-Portrait' work presented at the National Gallery of Armenia during the commemorative exhibition for Yervand Kocharyan's 125th anniversary is not an original piece. This was mentioned in a statement published by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (MoESCS).

The MoESCS noted that the ministry promptly responded to the statement and instructed the 'Expert Center for Cultural Values' to organize an expertise and identification of the mentioned work. 'We want to inform you that Yervand Kocharyan's 'Self-Portrait' (1936, wood/oil on canvas, 27*22 cm), which is displayed in the anniversary exhibition titled 'Yervand Kocharyan 125: Dismantling Time and Space' at the National Gallery of Armenia, is an original work. This is confirmed by both the data from art expertise and the qualitative analysis of the paint layers in comparison with archive data, as well as the description of the front and back of the work (including the natural wear of the wooden edges), the qualitative changes of the paint layers over time, the original label of a French art supply store present on the reverse of the work, and the previously conducted expert oversight from the MoESCS.

The work has been subjected to state control throughout its exhibition history, including prior to the aforementioned anniversary exhibition, and expert conclusions confirming this are available. Attached are photographs of the work removed from the frame, clearly indicating the lower edge and featuring visuals mentioned by R. Kocharyan, which may be somewhat difficult to see within the frame, along with images of the reverse side showing the original French label, as well as a photographic tape made in 1999 during the works done for E. Kocharyan's 100th anniversary, which provides additional opportunities for the identification of the work alongside art and material expertise.

Therefore, Ruben Kocharyan's statement asserting that the 'Self-Portrait' work is not original does not correspond to reality,' the statement concludes.