Himalayas 1938

Nicholas Roerich painted “Himalayas” with what looks like thin paint, maybe watercolor or gouache, in shades of blues and purples and whites. I can imagine Roerich layering these shades, one over the other. Building up the image with the kind of care it takes to climb a mountain! The white paint looks creamy and smooth, like fresh snow, and the blue shades recede into a calm sky. The peaks have a cool serenity to them. You know? When I look at this work, I feel like Roerich is in conversation with other painters, like Cezanne and his Mont Sainte-Victoire. It's like artists are always responding to each other across time. Each brushstroke feels considered, almost reverent. I think that kind of focus allows for painting to be a space of inquiry for both the artist and us.