A guy, Gegstad 1911

"A guy, Gegstad" is a watercolor and pencil on paper artwork, made by Nicholas Roerich. Roerich was deeply interested in folk culture and spirituality, and his art often explores themes of identity. Here, a man is shown dressed in a costume of bright colors. The man’s clothing is ornamented with gold, and yellow accessories. He holds a walking stick, perhaps suggesting a character on a journey. Roerich was a man of privilege in Russia, which impacted his perspective of folk culture. His interest was part of a broader cultural trend, where artists and intellectuals sought to define a unique Russian identity by looking to the past. Yet this idealization could gloss over the complex realities of those whose lives were uprooted. Roerich gives us an image of a man with individuality, even while referencing historic stereotypes. Ultimately, this artwork reflects how the search for cultural identity is always interwoven with personal stories.