Himalayas 1936

Nicholas Roerich painted these Himalayas with tempera on canvas. The sharp, ascending peaks of the Himalayas have long served as potent symbols of spiritual aspiration and transcendence. For centuries, mountains have been seen as sacred spaces, places where the earthly and divine meet. Think of Mount Olympus in Greek mythology, or Mount Sinai in the Judeo-Christian tradition. The upward-pointing form can be found across cultures, from the pyramids of Egypt to the Gothic cathedrals of Europe, each embodying a yearning to connect with higher realms. Here, the jagged edges of the mountains capture the intensity of spiritual ascent. It’s not just a physical journey but a psychological one, as the mountain evokes a deep, subconscious longing for something beyond our everyday existence. These mountains act as a reminder of our enduring quest for meaning, constantly resurfacing in our collective imagination, perpetually inviting us to look upwards.