Egypt 1939

Nicholas Roerich painted this dreamy Egypt scene with what looks like tempera or watercolor. I love how he’s using a limited palette of ochres and purples to build these really solid forms. It’s all about simplification, right? Look at how Roerich’s made the face of the Sphinx. It's all warm browns, with those tiny, dark eyes staring out. The pyramid behind it is split in two. One side catches the light, that warm, earthy orange. The other is in shadow, a cool purple. I think the painting isn't really trying to capture reality, but evokes something more emotional. Roerich's color choices remind me a bit of Milton Avery, and his ability to make such iconic, monumental imagery with so little is really something. The painting gives a sense of a place beyond the everyday. It’s a space that holds dreams, a place that exists in your mind.