Himalayas 

Nicholas Roerich made this watercolor painting, Himalayas, using materials and processes that are closely related to art traditions. The misty mountain peaks, executed in delicate washes of blue, purple and ochre, highlight the inherent qualities of the watercolor medium. The paper support allows the fluid colors to blend and bleed, giving the piece a sense of depth and atmosphere. Roerich would have worked with brushes of varying sizes to achieve both the broad, sweeping strokes of the sky and the finer details of the mountain ridges. The artist's skilled manipulation of water and pigment creates a dreamlike landscape that speaks to the sublime beauty of nature, and to the historical traditions of landscape painting. Ultimately, this piece challenges the distinction between fine art and craft, emphasizing the importance of both materials and making in understanding the full meaning of the artwork.