Sanga Chelling 1924

Nicholas Roerich made "Sanga Chelling," location and date unknown, with what looks like tempera on canvas. It’s a land of ochres, yellows, and browns, laid down in simple blocks of color, like a stage set. Roerich wasn't trying to trick you with realism; it’s more like he’s building a world, bit by bit. The paint is matte, almost chalky, giving it this otherworldly feel, like it exists outside of time. Look at the way the sky melts into the temples – everything feels connected, part of a bigger, cosmic picture. Then you notice the figure sitting alone on the cliff, just a small dab of red, but it brings the whole scene into focus. Roerich reminds me of Hilma af Klint, another artist who was into spiritual stuff and making these symbolic landscapes. But Roerich's got this directness, a kind of boldness in his simplicity, that’s all his own. It’s like he’s saying, "Here's my vision, take it or leave it." And I'm taking it.