Himalayas 

Editor: This piece, simply titled "Himalayas" by Nicholas Roerich, uses oil paint to depict a mountain range. The striking colors, especially the purples and golds, create a feeling of otherworldly grandeur. What symbolic language do you see at play here? Curator: Look at how Roerich uses the mountains themselves. Mountains often function as symbols of aspiration, enlightenment, and spiritual transcendence across many cultures. What emotional responses do those peaks evoke in you, considering how sharply they are rendered, almost like geometric forms? Editor: I can definitely see that sense of reaching for something higher, like a spiritual journey. The sharp, geometric forms, do seem almost unnatural, adding to the feeling that this isn't just a landscape but something more symbolic. Curator: Exactly. And notice the colour choices - the dominating purples. Purple often signifies royalty, wisdom, and mystery, linking the earthly mountains to divine concepts. This colour isn't entirely natural, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Not at all. The strong, solid purples give the piece a real power. What about the golden sky, then? Curator: Ah, the golden sky. This is a powerful symbol for illumination, knowledge, and the divine. Consider this alongside the geometric structure: do you notice how it gives us an idea of order? Could the artwork hint at spiritual disciplines for reaching enlightenment, where mountains as stages offer us opportunities for a higher awareness? Editor: Wow, I never would have seen that without your perspective. I was mostly drawn to the pretty colours. Curator: Art invites layers of contemplation, always. What resonates most powerfully are the symbols that ignite our own cultural and personal memories, forging a lasting connection.