Himalayas 

This painting by Nicholas Roerich captures a scene of the Himalayas, using tempera on cardboard. Tempera is an interesting choice, because it is an early technology. Before oil paint became widespread, tempera was the preferred medium for portable paintings like this. The powdery, matte surface that Roerich achieved lends a dreamlike quality to the mountains. See how the peaks fade into the sky, a deliberate outcome of the way tempera binds pigment. Roerich travelled extensively in the Himalayas, absorbing the cultural traditions of the region as well as the landscape itself. The perceived authenticity of handmade art objects creates value that can be understood in relation to labor. Roerich did much to foster this appreciation, and blur the boundaries of fine art.