Command 1917

Nicholas Roerich painted 'Command' with oil on canvas, sometime in the early 20th century. It’s got this kind of dreamy, theatrical vibe, right? Looking closely, you can see Roerich’s touch – the paint is laid on in these deliberate, almost mosaic-like strokes. It’s like he’s building up the image, piece by piece. Take the clouds, for example. They’re not just floating there, they’re almost solid, made of these chunky brushstrokes of blue and white, with just a hint of pink, that gives them this otherworldly weight. That figure in the foreground, commanding the landscape. He’s so small, but the way he’s painted, with these bold vertical stripes, he just pops against the muted blues and browns of the landscape. There's a sense of mystery and drama here. You might think of someone like Edvard Munch, who knew a thing or two about landscapes and big feelings, as you look at this piece. Art's all about conversation, after all.