Study of mountains 

Here, in Nicholas Roerich's "Study of Mountains," we encounter the mountain, a symbol deeply rooted in human consciousness as both a physical and spiritual landmark. In many cultures, mountains are seen as sacred, the dwelling places of gods and spirits, or points of contact between the earthly and the divine. Consider Mount Olympus in Greek mythology or Mount Meru in Buddhist cosmology. In Roerich's painting, the peaks are bathed in an ethereal light, colored in shades of pink, as if illuminated by an inner radiance, evoking a sense of awe and reverence, but here, rendered in a uniquely personal symbolic language. This upward thrust towards the heavens is not merely a geographic feature; it is a visual metaphor for aspiration, transcendence, and the quest for higher understanding. The mountain, in its enduring presence, reminds us of the cyclical nature of existence, a recurring motif in the vast theater of human history.