Karakoram ridge 1926

Nicholas Roerich made this painting, Karakoram Ridge, with what looks like tempera or maybe gouache. Look at those soft, chalky colours. The shapes are built with these broad, horizontal strokes, like the artist is physically building the landscape, layer by layer. I love the way the mountains recede into the distance, each one a slightly different hue of purple and brown. Then there’s that touch of snowy white on the peaks, kind of like a mirage. Roerich’s painting reminds me a little of Milton Avery. Both artists use simplified forms and a limited palette to create a sense of quiet contemplation. It’s not about capturing every detail, but more about conveying a feeling, an essence. There's a generosity in that lack of detail, like the work opens itself up to a thousand different interpretations.