Himalayas 

Nicholas Roerich’s painting "Himalayas," now in the Roerich Museum in Moscow, presents a compelling study in the power of monochromatic abstraction. Predominantly rendered in various shades of blue, the work evokes a sense of sublime, almost spiritual, grandeur. The composition divides the canvas into distinct horizontal registers. A dark, solid foreground gives way to progressively lighter, more ethereal mountain peaks and sky. Roerich uses subtle gradations to suggest depth and distance. The texture is smooth, almost dreamlike, softening the harshness of the mountain range, thus blending the material with the ethereal. This treatment of form destabilizes traditional landscape painting. Rather than mirroring nature, Roerich uses simplified shapes to convey the essence of the Himalayas. This formal approach invites us to interpret the mountains not just as geographical features, but as symbols of spiritual aspiration. The painting underscores how form and color alone can construct deep, resonant meaning.