Boyarynia and children 1914

This painting by Nicholas Roerich shows us four figures, standing side by side, rendered in bright and bold colors. It seems to be a study for a costume design using gouache, tempera and pencil. The figures in their ceremonial costumes are richly adorned with patterns, and I bet Roerich enjoyed thinking about the details: the small dots, circles, and lines form larger shapes, creating a symphony of visual information. There's a sense of flatness to the image, almost like a tapestry, with the shapes interlocking and weaving together. I can imagine Roerich being influenced by other painters like Gauguin, who were drawn to folk art. Artists are constantly looking at each other's work, borrowing and transforming ideas. Roerich’s painting practice involved an embodied expression that embraced ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations. It asks us to consider the act of painting as a form of embodied expression, embracing uncertainty, and valuing experimentation.