Himalayas 

Nicholas Roerich created this painting of the Himalayas using tempera, a traditional medium of pigments bound with egg yolk. Tempera paint is not easily blended, and dries quickly to create matte surfaces, so the mountain's ethereal depiction, with its delicate gradients of blue, is quite remarkable. Tempera has been used for centuries, and requires a high level of skill and precision; Roerich may have appreciated its association with the early Renaissance masters of the 14th and 15th centuries, many of whom created sacred images. Roerich was interested in spirituality, and the Himalayas held a special significance for him. He believed that the mountains were a source of spiritual power and that they could inspire people to live more ethical lives. This interest aligned with that of the Arts and Crafts movement, which sought to unite handcraft and fine art, promoting spiritual value in the process. By taking up this ancient medium and this awe-inspiring subject, Roerich collapses distinctions between East and West, and craft and fine art.