Sketch of costumes for "Snow Maiden" 1920

This is Nicholas Roerich’s sketch of costumes for “Snow Maiden”. Roerich, a Russian artist, writer, philosopher, and public figure, created this sketch at a time when Russia was undergoing significant cultural and political shifts. These sketches are evocative of traditional Russian folk costumes, drawing deeply from pre-industrial peasant culture, but also hint at the exoticism and orientalism that permeated the art world. The figures here are not merely wearing clothes; they are embodying a constructed idea of Russian identity. You can see it in the geometric patterns and the stylized headdresses. It's interesting to consider how Roerich uses these visual cues to both celebrate and perhaps romanticize an imagined Russian past. Roerich's work allows us to reflect on the complexities of cultural identity. These costumes symbolize the intertwined layers of history, representation, and personal expression.