Pechora. Monastery walls and towers. 1903

Nicholas Roerich made this painting, Pechora. Monastery walls and towers, with oil on canvas. Look at those thick, juicy strokes of paint. The walls and towers are built up with dabs of color, like he's laying bricks of pigment. It's so physical, you can almost feel the weight of the place. The dark greens and browns give it this grounded, earthy feel, while the softer tones in the architecture suggest a kind of weathered history. Take a closer look at the way he's painted the hillside in the foreground, each stroke a deliberate mark, shaping the form and adding depth. You can see the influence of artists like Vrubel here, with his mosaic-like surfaces. It's like Roerich is not just representing a place, but building a world with his brush. And like any good world, it's full of mysteries.