Ladakh 1929

Nicholas Roerich created this landscape, called Ladakh, with oil paint using a pared-down palette. It is like a vision emerging from a dream! I love the way Roerich built up these mountains with such flat, distinct planes of color. What was he thinking, layering these hues? The lavender haze at the top, the cool blues, the earthy browns – it is all so carefully considered. The peaks aren't just mountains; they’re like emotional states, solid and ethereal all at once. Roerich reminds me of other painters who weren't afraid to simplify and flatten forms, like Marsden Hartley, but he brings something unique to the table. I imagine his studio filled with studies of light and form, each canvas a step towards distilling the essence of a landscape. With every mark he is asking, How can I express what I am seeing?