Tibet 1944

Nicholas Roerich made this painting of Tibet with soft pastel hues that feel quiet and still. Imagine Roerich layering these colours, one over the other, trying to find the right balance between the solid mountains and the ephemeral sky. I wonder if he felt a sense of peace when he was making it? The textures seem soft and hazy, and the whole scene is so quiet. Look at how the mountains fade into the distance; it's like they are disappearing into the sky. The solitary figure on the lower right almost feels like an invitation to be contemplative. Maybe this painting invites us to find a quiet place inside ourselves. I see this painting in conversation with other landscape painters like Caspar David Friedrich or even Agnes Martin, who also invite us to slow down and contemplate the world around us. These artists remind us that painting is a way to be present.