Lotus 1933

Nicholas Roerich made this painting, Lotus, date unknown, with what looks like tempera on board. The colors, though bright, are somehow also muted and earthy, which gives the painting a kind of otherworldly quality. Roerich's artmaking feels like a translation, not a representation. Looking closely, the paint application is smooth and deliberate. The mountains in the background, rendered in shades of purple and brown, have this sculptural feel, like clay. Notice how the figure in the lotus position is both central to the composition and yet also flattened, almost like a hieroglyph. I love the way the yellow of the sky seems to bleed into the water, creating this seamless, dreamlike space. Roerich's interest in spiritual themes and simplified forms reminds me a little of Hilma af Klint, though Roerich's work feels more grounded in a specific cultural context. Ultimately, it's up to you to bring your own interpretation to it, and allow it to resonate in ways that are meaningful to you.