Himalayas (study) 1934

Nicholas Roerich painted this study of the Himalayas using tempera, a fast-drying medium, and his paintings often depict monumental landscapes. Roerich was a Russian artist, archaeologist, and spiritualist whose work was deeply influenced by his travels through Central Asia, especially the Himalayas. Roerich's travels were conducted in the 1920s and 30s, a time when many Europeans and Americans were drawn to Asian spiritual traditions, and he was part of a larger cultural phenomenon of seeking wisdom and enlightenment from the East. His paintings often have a mystical or spiritual quality, and they reflect his belief in the interconnectedness of all things. Understanding Roerich's social and intellectual context is essential to understanding his art. Archival sources such as travel diaries, ethnographic studies, and the writings of other artists and intellectuals who were part of this movement can offer further insight into Roerich’s social and institutional context, and thus into the deeper meanings of his art.