Varangian warrior 1911

Nicholas Roerich made this drawing of a Varangian warrior, we’re not sure when or with what, but his touch is all over it. It's so simple, just a few lines, yet it speaks volumes. Look at the way he uses line, so economical, so full of purpose. The marks aren’t about showing off, but about conveying something essential about form and presence. The cape, shield, and spear form the structure of the composition. It's like he’s not trying to capture the warrior, but rather the idea of a warrior. Roerich reminds me of Marsden Hartley, someone else who wasn’t afraid to pare things down to their essence. Like them, Roerich shows us that art isn’t about complexity, but about stripping away the excess to reveal the heart of the matter. Art is like a conversation, an ongoing dialogue between artists across time and space, all of us wrestling with the same questions.