Great rider. Rigden Jyepo - Messenger of Shambhala 1927

Nicholas Roerich, painted "Great rider. Rigden Jyepo - Messenger of Shambhala," sometime in the 20th century, probably using tempera. The first thing you notice is the way Roerich layers the colours, one on top of another, building this shimmering effect, almost like he is making marks on silk. Look closely and you'll see how he uses the materiality of the paint to create this incredible atmosphere and a sense of visual depth. There's this great orange horse rearing up through clouds that are rendered like swirls of cream. The whole composition is full of movement and energy. It's like he’s trying to capture a feeling more than a literal representation. It reminds me of Hilma af Klint, but with a totally different cultural inflection. Ultimately, the painting is about the possibilities of mark making, and how even a simple gesture can evoke something profound. Art is a conversation, and Roerich had something important to say.