Sketch of countryside 1890

Nicholas Roerich made this countryside sketch with pencil during a time of immense social upheaval in Russia. Roerich’s art often reflects his deep spiritual beliefs, referencing Eastern religions and philosophies. This sketch, with its subdued tones and emphasis on the natural landscape, seems to echo the search for harmony and inner peace amidst external chaos. His landscapes weren’t just about geography; they were about mapping a spiritual sense of place. He sought to find connections between humanity and the cosmos. Roerich once said: "Art unites all! Art is of one coinage! Art is the peacemaker! The might of Art is revealed for the synthesis of Life!" Roerich's work gives an alternative to the dominant narratives of progress and modernity of his time. The sketch invites us to contemplate our relationship with nature, and maybe find a quiet resistance to the disruptive forces of modernity.