King Gesar 1941

Nicholas Roerich made this painting of King Gesar with what looks like tempera on canvas, although I can’t be sure. What I love about this painting is the way it embraces the drama of a limited palette. It’s like Roerich set himself a challenge to evoke a whole world with essentially just one color: red. It’s not just red, of course, but a whole family of reds, from the fiery background to the more muted tones in the foreground. The texture isn't particularly heavy, but you can see the strokes, especially in the way the red is layered to create a sense of depth. Look at the way the figure of the king and his horse are silhouetted against that burning red sky. It’s a really bold choice, and it makes the whole scene feel both epic and intimate. Roerich’s work reminds me a bit of Marsden Hartley's, especially in the way they both use color to convey emotion and spiritual depth. Art is always in conversation, after all.