Brahmaputra 1945

Nicholas Roerich painted 'Brahmaputra' with oil on canvas, and I love how he's built up the image in layers. It's like he's chasing the light, trying to catch that fleeting moment between day and night. The painting feels smooth, almost dreamlike. Look at how the colors fade into each other, from the dark blues of the mountains to the shimmering gold of the river. There’s a real sense of depth, as if you could step right into the scene. The paint is thinly applied, allowing the canvas to breathe. Notice that band of ochre at the bottom, anchoring the composition. It’s a subtle choice, but it gives the painting a grounding, a sense of place. Roerich's work always reminds me of Hilma af Klint. Both were interested in spiritual and mystical themes, and in using color to express inner states of being. 'Brahmaputra' is a reminder that art is always in conversation, across time and space, and that there are many ways to see and experience the world.