Himalayas 1938

Nicholas Roerich made this watercolor painting, "Himalayas," and you can see how he’s built it up in layers. There’s a real sense of process in this work, and you can see how the colors interact and bleed into each other. I love the way the dark blues and greens of the mountains contrast with the soft pinks and blues of the sky. The paint is thin, transparent, and washy, which gives the piece a dreamy, ethereal quality. Look closely at the peaks of the mountains – you can see how Roerich used a delicate touch to create the snow-capped effect. It’s like he’s letting the medium of watercolor do its thing, allowing the colors to mingle and merge on the paper. Roerich's approach reminds me of Agnes Martin. Both artists create work that’s meditative and spiritual, inviting us to contemplate the beauty of the natural world and the mysteries of the universe. Art is not about answers, it is about making space for contemplation, just like this painting.