Costume design of a Shipbuilder for "Peer Gynt" 1912

Nicholas Roerich's costume design for a shipbuilder from "Peer Gynt" is rendered with ink, watercolor, and tempera. The artist's hand has sketched out the design, with flat areas of colour that feel gestural and rapid. I can imagine Roerich wrestling with the figure on paper, trying to get the weight and bulk of this salty sea dog just right. There's a beautiful contrast between the rough, heavy garments and the delicate touch of his hand on the pipe. The smoke almost has a life of its own, curling upwards. The muted palette lends a timeless quality, like a memory from a long-forgotten play. It makes me think of other costume designs I've seen – think Picasso's costume designs for the Ballets Russes – where the artist's vision extends beyond the canvas and into the realm of performance and storytelling. The blank backdrop makes me feel I could dive right into the picture. The loose rendering provides a space of imagination, inviting us into the mind of the shipbuilder. Artists are always borrowing and lending ideas.