The scene with three figures in costumes 1920

Nicholas Roerich made this scene with three figures in costumes sometime in the early 20th century. It’s so cool how Roerich’s making this look like a memory or a half-remembered story. The costumes feel more important than the figures themselves, like the players are lost within their roles. See how the forms are outlined with this energetic ink line? It’s like Roerich is thinking out loud, trying to capture the movement of these musicians. There's a real sense of freedom in the mark-making. I wonder what kind of music they're playing? The simple colour scheme creates this sense of theatre, and the red details bring life and rhythm to the whole composition. It reminds me of Léger’s playfulness, but with a Russian folk twist. It all feels provisional, more about the experience of making than any fixed idea.