Lahaul 1932

Nicholas Roerich painted 'Lahaul' using tempera, a fast-drying medium that suits his broad, simple style. I feel like I'm looking at a stage set, a backdrop for some epic drama, painted with big brushes and a limited palette of blues, whites, and grays. The paint feels thin, almost translucent in places, allowing the texture of the surface to peek through. See how he's built up the mountains with these flat planes of color? It's like he's carving them out of the canvas, reducing the landscape to its bare essentials. I love the way the light hits the peaks, turning them into these glowing, ethereal forms. The shadows are deep and cool, creating a sense of depth and mystery. Roerich reminds me a bit of Marsden Hartley in his simplification of form, and in his love of landscape as a vehicle for spiritual expression. And like Hartley, Roerich invites us to contemplate the power of nature and the mysteries that lie beyond our everyday perception. There’s no definitive meaning here, just a feeling, an invitation to get lost in the mountains.