The dog has gone 1895

This is an oil painting by Nicholas Roerich titled “The dog has gone”. The painting is dominated by a palette of browns and muted greens which creates a melancholic atmosphere. The composition is structured around a central, horizontal form of a sleeping dog. The dog is placed above a series of linear brushstrokes that could be a rug or flooring and this introduces a sense of depth. Roerich uses a combination of visible brushstrokes and subtle gradations of color to suggest the texture of the dog's fur, emphasizing the materiality of paint itself. The space in the artwork feels compressed, almost claustrophobic. Roerich’s composition can be interpreted through the lens of existentialism, exploring themes of absence and presence. The title "The dog has gone" creates a tension with the dog that is very much present. This interplay of absence and presence destabilizes our expectations. The dog is here, but it is also gone. The dog has withdrawn into itself, asleep. Roerich's formal choices contribute to a deeper philosophical engagement, challenging viewers to consider the complexities of being and nothingness within the mundane.