Uglich. Church of prince Dmitry. 1904

Nicholas Roerich painted ‘Uglich. Church of prince Dmitry’ with oils, and I imagine, on location. Look at those brushstrokes! So bold, so sure of themselves. You know, painting outside, en plein air, is a totally different ballgame than working in a studio. The light’s always changing, the wind’s blowing… it's a battle against time and the elements! I bet Roerich had to work fast, capturing the essence of that church before the sun dipped too low. He's using these earthy reds and greens, that really give you a sense of the Russian landscape. I can almost feel the crisp air and smell the damp earth. There’s a kind of raw energy in those strokes, a feeling of being right there with him, watching the scene unfold. You sense he's not just painting a building; he's painting a mood, a feeling. It’s like he’s inviting us to experience the soul of Russia through his eyes. And isn't that what painting's all about?