Gorky had a seminal influence on Abstract Expressionism and Surrealism. Gorky was born in the village of Khorgom, situated on the shores of Lake Van (Vana Lij). It is not known exactly when he was born: it was sometime between 1903 and 1905.In later years Arshile Gorky was vague about even the date of his birth, changing it from year to year. In 1910 his father emigrated to America to avoid the draft, leaving his family behind in the town of Van (Armenia).