Study 1901

This ‘Study’ by Nicholas Roerich shows two nude figures caught in dark ink. I imagine the artist with a sketchbook, trying to capture the raw, unfettered energy of the human form. There’s a sense of urgency in the marks, as if Roerich is wrestling with line and tone. The figure crouched low—what thoughts occupy him as he braces himself against the earth? Maybe the standing figure seeks rest or solace. It reminds me of Rodin’s sketches. Both share a knack for capturing the human spirit through the language of the body. They reveal the artist's intimate conversation with the subject, where each line is a question and every shadow, a response. And like all artists who came before and after, Roerich leaves the door open for us to bring our own feelings to the table.