Hill of Tara 

Nicholas Roerich likely created this painting, made with oil on canvas, sometime in the first half of the 20th century. Roerich's process involved applying layers of paint to build up the forms of the mountains and the figure in the foreground. Look closely and you'll see how the material qualities of the oil paint – its viscosity, the way it reflects light – contribute to the work's ethereal atmosphere. The paint isn't blended, so we can still see individual brushstrokes, a record of the artist's hand. Roerich was deeply interested in spiritual themes, and traveled widely in Asia. So it isn't surprising that he created an image resonant with a sense of mystery. The artwork shows the detailed craft of his hand, but also represents a reverence for the spiritual life and the power of nature. Ultimately, "Hill of Tara" reminds us that every work of art is the product of material, process, and cultural context. It challenges us to look beyond the surface and consider the deeper meanings embedded within.