Arabesques on a Pirosmani theme is a documentary movie about the great Georgian artist Niko Pirosmani. By filming the details and themes of his colorful paintings, Parajanov creates a captivating and mysterious portrait of Georgia itself. This later work is often seen as a companion piece to Hakob Hovnatanyan, as it too takes its subject from a famous painter.
In many ways an elaboration on Hovnatanyan's model, Arabescuri on a Pirosmani Theme is a celebration of the painter Niko Pirosmani, considered Georgia's national painter. Parajanov shoots Pirosmani's paintings to emphasize their tonal contrasts, in some cases heightening the drama, so that Pirosmani becomes a kind of latter-day Caucasian El Greco.
