Taos Pueblo, New Mexico 1921

Nicholas Roerich made this painting of Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, and the way he handles the paint, it’s like he's building it up, block by block, just like the pueblo itself. Look at how Roerich uses these earthy tones, ochres and pinks, almost like the buildings are growing right out of the land. The paint is applied in layers, not too thick, but you can still see the brushstrokes, that carry all the feeling. It's not just a picture of a place, but of a process, a way of seeing and feeling the world. I love the way the mountains in the background echo the shapes of the pueblo, like everything is connected. It reminds me a little of Marsden Hartley, with that same sense of place and feeling. But Roerich has his own thing going on, a kind of spiritual vibe that's hard to put into words. It's not just about what you see, but what you feel.