Shchegolikha 1912

Nicholas Roerich made this costume design for Shchegolikha, a character from The Snow Maiden, using pencil and ink. It looks like he started with a detailed sketch and then went over it, adding heavier lines to give the figure weight. It’s interesting how the flat, patterned shapes create a sense of depth. The stark contrast between black and white flattens the image, but the detail in the costume gives the figure volume. It reminds me of Picasso’s cubist portraits where the shapes overlap and intersect, creating multiple perspectives simultaneously. Look at the circular motifs on the skirt. They are almost like portals or windows, drawing you in and then pushing you back out. Roerich’s work always has this mystical quality, but there is also a sense of humor and playfulness, a quality he shares with Sonia Delaunay. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, which is something I always try to keep in mind when I’m making my own art. It’s not about creating a perfect image but embracing the process and letting the work evolve naturally.