Moses the Leader 1926

Nicholas Roerich painted Moses the Leader using tempera on canvas. Look at how the colors interact; it is almost as if the aurora borealis dances across the canvas in strokes of blues, greens, and whites, swirling above a mountainous landscape rendered in deep purples. I can imagine Roerich layering each pigment, feeling his way through the composition. The mountains are angular and imposing. A lone figure stands atop one of the peaks, arms outstretched, perhaps in supplication or command. Is it Moses? There’s a kind of bold simplicity in his choice of form. See how the paint is applied in such a way that it emphasizes the texture of the canvas. He makes use of layering and glazing techniques, which give the painting a luminous quality. It's almost like he’s not just depicting a scene but trying to evoke a feeling. Roerich must have been looking at painters like Puvis de Chavannes. Painting is such a beautiful conversation between artists, each responding to those who came before while finding new ways to express the world as they see it.