Snow Maiden and Berendey 1920

Nicholas Roerich made this painting, Snow Maiden and Berendey, using tempera and watercolor, with soft marks and muted colors that give it a dreamlike, storybook feel. It's like each brushstroke is whispering a secret. Roerich's use of tempera and watercolor creates a fascinating surface, almost like looking at a fresco. The colors are applied in thin, translucent layers, allowing the texture of the paper to peek through. Look at the way he renders the intricate patterns on Berendey's robe. Each circle and motif is carefully outlined, yet there's a deliberate looseness, a slight imperfection, that keeps it from feeling too rigid. It’s this balance that gives the painting its unique charm. Roerich's paintings always remind me a bit of Puvis de Chavannes, that same sense of timelessness and spiritual depth. But in the end, it's the feeling that sticks with you, that sense of mystery and wonder.