Himalayas 1938

Nicholas Roerich painted this artwork, Himalayas, at some point, we don't know exactly when, but you can see the image is constructed with many small marks. It's a process of building up the image rather than defining it with one grand gesture. The mountain is an idea made from many little thoughts. Look at how the cobalt blue ink of the mountain fades as it runs into the off-white of the sky. You can sense the materiality of the watercolor here, the way it saturates the paper with pigment, creating these subtle gradations and textures. The contrast of the blues and whites gives the image a crispness and an ethereal quality. The layering of colors creates a depth that draws you in, making you feel like you could climb right into the painting. Roerich’s method reminds me of Agnes Martin’s process, her tiny pencil marks creating an expansive and atmospheric image. Art is a conversation, a back and forth. It leaves room for you to bring yourself to the conversation.