Saviour Almighty 1907

Nicholas Roerich made this painting, Saviour Almighty, sometime in the early 20th century. The way he's built up the paint here is really interesting. The colours are muted, but somehow still luminous, like a fire burning beneath the surface. It's all about the process, the layering and letting things emerge. There's this amazing texture in the gold background, almost like a woven fabric. It's rough and imperfect, which makes the smooth, dark face stand out even more. Look at how the halo is painted – it's not perfect or idealized. It's got cracks and wear, a very physical, material presence that feels like it could be from an ancient icon. The whole thing feels very grounded and real. Roerich’s work reminds me a little of Marsden Hartley's mystical landscapes, where the paint itself becomes a kind of spiritual medium. It makes you think about the conversation between artists across time, and how they keep reinterpreting these timeless themes in their own way.