Waiting 1927

Nicholas Roerich made this painting, Waiting, with tempera, and what grabs me is its super matte surface. You know, how some paintings just suck up all the light? Here, the colors feel muted, like they’ve been toned down, maybe with some kind of wash. It's not about showing off virtuosity; it’s about letting the process be visible, with these gentle but definite brushstrokes. And look at the figure, standing solitary on the hill. They're created with only a few strokes, but they evoke a powerful feeling of longing. Maybe it’s the feeling of being small in the face of a big, endless landscape, rendered here in shades of blue and brown. It reminds me a little of Caspar David Friedrich, but without the drama, and with more calm.