Mount Fuji 1936

Nicholas Roerich created this painting of Mount Fuji, a watercolor on cardboard, with an emphasis on its iconic peak. The mountain as a symbol echoes through time, a powerful shape across cultures. Think of the ziggurats of Mesopotamia, the pyramids of Egypt, or even the artificial hills of ancient Europe—all attempts to touch the sky, to bridge the earthly and divine realms. Mount Fuji, in this context, is more than just a mountain. It embodies the striving for enlightenment, a beacon drawing the eye upward. The recurring image of the mountain taps into our collective memory, a shared aspiration to transcend the mundane. Consider, too, how the mountain has been represented in other art forms across time, such as printmaking, evolving into a secular symbol of national identity and cultural pride. It is this powerful, almost primal connection, that Roerich captures, engaging us on a subconscious level.