Pilgrim 1932

Nicholas Roerich painted "Pilgrim" using tempera on canvas. There's something immediate about this work. Look at the way Roerich builds the landscape, using a simple layering of colours. The marks feel intuitive, like the painting grew organically. And the palette! The colours vibrate; pink mountains, a turquoise sky. The paint application is smooth, almost translucent in areas, giving a sense of ethereal light. Notice the textures in the lower part of the mountain, how the colours blend, creating depth with a limited range. Roerich wasn't interested in photo-realism; he was interested in a feeling, an impression. In that little figure riding an animal down there, you can almost feel the journey. Roerich's spiritual quest resonates through his work. You might think of Marsden Hartley. Both artists embrace a sense of mystical symbolism and a simplified visual language to convey deeper truths. Like with any great painting, there’s a sense of possibility. An openness that invites your own interpretation.