Himalayas 1940

Nicholas Roerich painted this small work, Himalayas, with tempera on cardboard. Look how Roerich built up his image in layers, starting with a thin wash of pale pink for the sky, and then adding darker and darker blues for the mountains. This additive process gives the painting depth, and it’s also how we experience life, right? Layer by layer. The texture here is subtle but important. The matte surface of the tempera paint gives the mountains a solid, almost sculptural presence, as though Roerich was interested in the weight of the mountains as much as their appearance. Notice the way he simplified the forms, reducing each peak and ridge to its essential shape. In the foreground, the darkest mountain range is rendered in deep, almost black blues, creating a sense of mystery. It reminds me of Marsden Hartley’s landscapes - both artists were interested in the spiritual power of nature, finding in mountains a symbol of something bigger than themselves. What do you see?