Vignette for book "N. K. Roerich" 1918

This is a vignette for a book on N.K. Roerich, made by Roerich himself, and it's like peering into a little world. The stark black and white is so bold, and the image feels carved out, like a block print, giving it this real, grounded presence. Check out the figure in the middle. It looks like someone in meditation, surrounded by zig-zaggy lines. Are they waves, or mountains? It’s not obvious, but that’s the point. The shapes here aren't trying to trick you into thinking they are real - they’re more like symbols. The whole thing's framed in a circle, like a tiny universe. You can almost feel Roerich's hand moving through the process, making decisions. Art is about not being too sure. It’s not about answers; it's more like a question that keeps opening up. Like a conversation, maybe with Hilma af Klint, about seeing beyond what's in front of us.