Paternoster 1940

Nicholas Roerich painted "Paternoster" at an unknown date, using a process that feels both immediate and timeless. The painting’s surface has this almost velvety texture, achieved through thin layers of color, especially in those deep blues that evoke a vast, starry night. A solitary figure sits by what appears to be water, surrounded by fish, with a small flame that feels so fragile against the immensity of the mountains behind. The paint application is smooth, almost dreamlike, allowing the light to subtly shift and play across the scene, drawing you into this quiet, meditative space. There’s a real sense of spiritual quest here, reminiscent of Caspar David Friedrich, but with a distinctly Roerich sensibility, hinting at a deeper connection to nature and the cosmos. It's a conversation about how we, as humans, seek meaning in the world.