Sacred Himalayas 1933

Nicholas Roerich created this painting of the Sacred Himalayas with oil and tempera, using simplified forms and a glowing palette. I love how Roerich lays down colour in such a simplified and stylized manner, really embracing the physicality of paint as substance and material. It's not about the details; it's about distilling the essence of light and form. Look at how the light hits the peaks, a golden wash that feels almost otherworldly. The texture isn’t trying to mimic reality; it’s got its own thing going on, rough and matte. And those blues in the distant peaks? They vibrate against the yellows and oranges. Roerich isn’t trying to trick you into thinking you're there; he's inviting you to feel the spiritual weight of these mountains. He’s doing something similar to what Marsden Hartley did in his landscapes, turning nature into something iconic.