Study of mountains 1930

Here's a painting of mountains in muted blues and grays by Nicholas Roerich. I can imagine the act of painting, how it comes into being, maybe shifting and emerging through trial, error and intuition. You know, I sympathize with Roerich, trying to capture something so big and expansive. What was he thinking when he made it? I like to zoom in on particular gestures - the layering of thin washes to build up atmospheric depth, creating this feeling of vastness and silence. The texture is smooth, almost like watercolor, which gives it a dreamy quality. It reminds me a little bit of some of the Hudson River School painters, but with a more mystical, symbolic bent. Artists are in an ongoing conversation, inspiring each other’s creativity. Ultimately, this painting embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.