Himalayas 

Editor: Here, we’re looking at "Himalayas" by Nicholas Roerich, painted with tempera and oil paint. I am immediately struck by how...calming this artwork feels, despite the immensity it depicts. What’s your take, what do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, calming is a perfect word. It breathes with the quietude of immense spaces, doesn't it? Roerich wasn't just painting mountains; he was painting a spiritual realm, a ladder reaching towards enlightenment. He lived amongst these ranges – you know, led expeditions right into the heart of them. What do you make of the color palette, so…unrealistic, almost? Editor: That's interesting! I noticed the blues and purples, and how the pink skies create an ethereal feel, far from any photograph I’ve seen of the Himalayas. It definitely leans into symbolism, right? Curator: Precisely! Color for Roerich was a key. He chose each pigment, I suspect, with the meticulous care of a monk illuminating a manuscript. Each shade whispers of unseen forces, of ancient wisdom. And note the almost geometric quality. It reminds me of Byzantine mosaics – not by accident. It is his nod toward a hidden, powerful architecture within nature itself. I wonder, does the simplification diminish its impact or heighten it for you? Editor: I think the simplification gives it a universal quality. Like the mountains are a stand-in for any place of introspection or reverence, really. I wouldn't have considered the Byzantine influence but that resonates so much. Curator: Yes, isn't it wondrous? I love how a painting can open up portals like that! To really *see* is to truly wander… Editor: Definitely given me something to consider; wander is right. Thanks for your thoughts.