Sketch of mosaic to the monument to Kuinji 1913

Nicholas Roerich sketched this mosaic to the monument to Kuinji with ink and tempera on cardboard, and what a sketch it is! The umber and gold draw me right in. I can imagine him starting with the dark background, setting the stage for a rich tapestry to emerge. Look at that tree, with its reddish trunk and golden leaves! It seems to grow between worlds. What was Roerich thinking when he made this? Was he perhaps dreaming of an ancient enchanted forest? I bet he had a story in his head. The paint is applied with such care, each brushstroke contributing to the overall mystical feel. It reminds me of Klimt, but with a Roerich twist. You see how artists are constantly riffing off of one another? This piece feels like a conversation, not just with Kuinji, but with the whole history of art. It’s an invitation to get lost in the details, to see something new each time, to think our own thoughts. It is a place of uncertainty, an opening, rather than a closed door.