Dzong 1928

Nicholas Roerich made this painting, Dzong, at an unknown date. What I love about this image is the simplicity of mark making. It is all about subtle tones and blocks of color used to define this imposing fortress, perched on the landscape, like a rock. The paint looks thin, almost translucent, as if Roerich built the image up in layers of glazes. These flat areas of color create a mood of stillness and solitude, maybe even a bit like a stage set? The blues, greys and whites create a very quiet palette that allows us to focus on the forms themselves. Look how the artist used light to create volume and depth, especially on the walls of the Dzong, where the pale pink hues contrast against the steely blue shadows. In some ways the work of Agnes Martin comes to mind here. She also made paintings that were very quiet, contemplative, and focused on the subtleties of color and light. Both artists, in their own way, capture the essence of a particular place or feeling through their art. And, like Martin, Roerich finds that paintings can be a way of finding stillness in a noisy world.