Rocks & cliffs. 1919

Nicholas Roerich made this painting of rocks and cliffs with oil on canvas, the date is unknown. The colors are subdued, like a memory of a place rather than a direct view, and the marks are broken and dashed. It's like he's trying to catch the feeling of the landscape, rather than its precise details. Up close, you can really see how Roerich built up the surface. The paint is applied in layers, with these small, deliberate strokes. There's a kind of patchwork effect, where the colors blend, but still retain their own distinct character. Look at the way the light hits the hills in the background. It’s not a smooth, blended highlight, but a series of touches, like he's suggesting the play of light rather than describing it. This reminds me of early Cézanne, who was similarly interested in the underlying structure of the world. And like Cézanne, Roerich isn't trying to give us a photo-realistic view, but something more felt, more deeply understood. Art isn't about perfect representation, but about opening up different ways of seeing.