Behest of the sky 1915

Curator: What a striking skyscape. “Behest of the Sky,” painted by Nicholas Roerich in 1915. It's oil on canvas, a fine example of symbolism. Editor: My first thought is overwhelming. The cloud formation feels monumental, oppressive even. The small figures almost seem dwarfed by the immensity of the sky, as if supplicating. Curator: Roerich, with his interest in the spiritual and cultural heritage, often depicted landscapes with profound symbolic weight. Here, those figures, seemingly in traditional garb, are confronting a force of nature, a manifestation of the divine will perhaps. Consider how Orientalism was very fashionable at the time. Editor: It’s the textures I find compelling. Look at the layering of the oil paint; Roerich really emphasizes the tangible quality of the clouds, making them feel dense and heavy, pressing down on the scene. It makes one consider the craft involved, the material relationship between the artist, his paint and this almost tangible sky. Curator: Yes, and this work was created during a period of great upheaval—World War I was raging. I wonder how the turbulent historical context shaped his exploration of spirituality and the enduring power of nature. The image could even be a meditation on collective human destiny and faith during uncertain times. Editor: It definitely steers away from academic naturalism. The stylized figures and simplified landscape indicate a certain abstraction, redirecting our gaze from the material world towards a more profound meaning. The conscious artistry in the application, brushstrokes and chosen pigmentation elevate what might be dismissed as mere decoration. Curator: Roerich’s vision here blends a concern for the cosmos and humanity’s place within it, and invites reflections about nature's forces and its impact on our own history and the collective psyche. Editor: Absolutely. It’s the artist's command over oil and the canvas itself that truly renders "Behest of the Sky" such an absorbing and resonant experience. Curator: It all amounts to a very affecting image. Editor: Yes, the artwork, in its making, invites much deliberation and introspection.