Himalayas. Turquoise lake. 1936

Nicholas Roerich made this painting of the Himalayas, turquoise lake, in Russia, and the handling of paint is so interesting to me, how it expresses a feeling. Roerich layers thin washes of paint over the canvas, building up areas of color and texture, particularly in the mountains, which gives them this real depth. It’s like he’s revealing the landscape rather than just representing it. The paint isn’t trying to trick you into thinking it’s something else, it’s just paint, which for me makes it even more powerful. Look at the peaks of the mountains, they’re defined by these decisive strokes of dark blue, really grounding the composition. It’s the kind of confident mark-making that comes from someone who really knows their materials. This reminds me of Agnes Martin’s landscapes, with their emphasis on spirituality, although Roerich is very much his own thing, and the painting becomes a kind of visual poem, inviting us to contemplate the mysteries of the world.