Polovtsian camp 1914

Nicholas Roerich conjured ‘Polovtsian Camp’ with tempera on cardboard sometime between the late 19th and mid-20th century. Look at that yellow! I can imagine the artist layering and blending strokes to create a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere. You can sense Roerich experimenting, pushing the boundaries of form and color to evoke something beyond the literal. I imagine he felt a pull towards the spiritual. He probably stood back, squinting, trying to simplify what he saw, feeling around for a new way to capture light. That fiery red blob in the foreground feels alive, like a heartbeat echoing the landscapes of Marsden Hartley, or maybe Milton Avery. I can see how Roerich paved the way for later artists who weren't afraid to get emotional with color. Ultimately, painting is an act of faith. We show up, make marks, and trust that something meaningful will emerge, even if we can’t quite put it into words.