Original Armenian Pen and Ink Drawing, Mashtots Theme

A finely executed original pen and ink drawing on acid-free paper, stylistically linked to Mesrop Mashtots, creator of the Armenian alphabet. A bearded, robed figure unfurls a scroll bearing the first six Armenian letters (Ա Բ Գ Դ Ե Զ). The solemn pose and symbolic register place the sheet firmly within Armenian cultural identity and the sacred act of writing.

Symbolic imagery is layered throughout: bird and animal motifs behind the head, a tree trunk and roots anchoring the figure, an obscured face below the arm, faint hand-like forms suggesting an embrace from behind, and a mountainous outline resembling Mt. Ararat worked into the rocky ground.

The drawing is affixed to backing paper with period marginal annotations in Armenian ("exhibit" / "testimony"), numeric codes ("96.49.101", "97.59.92"), and the name Bagratuni, possibly referencing the artist, or Armenia's royal Bagratid lineage. The reverse bears a stamped Turkish notary seal with crescent and star, including the term "Noterliği" (Notary) and the partial locality "Sarı…", confirming official entry into a registry.

The visual and contextual evidence suggests the sheet formed part of a notarized submission, likely for copyright, exhibition, or archival deposit, making it at once an artwork and an authenticated record.