Himalayas (study) 1930

Nicholas Roerich painted this study of the Himalayas with what looks like thin layers of blue paint, building up a monumental landscape. I can imagine Roerich standing before the mountains, trying to capture their immensity and spiritual power. It must have been an incredible feeling to try and communicate all that vastness. The paint seems thinly applied, almost like watercolor, which gives it a dreamy, ethereal quality. Look how the cool blues and whites create a sense of distance and height. There's a real sense of stillness in this painting, like the air is thin and the world is quiet. The mountains are simplified into basic geometric forms, which gives them an iconic, timeless feel. Roerich was deeply interested in the spiritual dimensions of landscape, a bit like Agnes Martin or Hilma af Klint, who were similarly interested in capturing other dimensions. Painting is often a conversation across time, artists looking at each other's work and responding, building on what came before. This study reminds us that painting is not just about representation, but about feeling, conveying mood, and opening up a space for contemplation.