Himalayas 

This is one of the many Himalayan landscapes painted by Nicholas Roerich, likely made with tempera on cardboard. Roerich was fascinated by the expressive potential of the rugged mountain range, and made hundreds of paintings of the area, often using this portable material. The texture of the cardboard, with its slight tooth, seems perfect for capturing the rough, imposing nature of the subject. The tempera allows for quick, thin layers of color, which Roerich used to evoke the cool atmosphere of high altitudes. It's interesting to consider how the portability of these materials allowed Roerich to produce a vast body of work. In a way, the making of these paintings resembles a kind of industrialized production, with Roerich serving as both artist and factory, churning out image after image of the Himalayas. This speaks to the changing relationship between art, labor, and consumption in the early 20th century. Ultimately, by recognizing the importance of materials and processes, we can fully understand the cultural significance of artworks like Roerich's Himalayas, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.