This landscape painting, Himalayas, was created by Nicholas Roerich using tempera, a traditional medium involving pigment mixed with a binder like egg yolk. Roerich’s choice of tempera is significant. Unlike oil paint, which allows for blending and a smooth surface, tempera dries quickly, resulting in distinct, layered strokes and a matte finish. You can see how he uses this quality in the distinct blocks of color, to create a sense of the monumental and timeless. The subject matter and the medium are deeply intertwined. Roerich was drawn to the spiritual and symbolic power of the Himalayas. The tempera’s earthy, mineral-like quality echoes the natural pigments found in the mountains themselves. The layering creates depth and evokes the geological formation, while the fast-drying paint captures a sense of the crisp, clear air of high altitudes. Roerich's painting demonstrates how material choices and making processes aren't secondary, but central to the artwork's meaning. By carefully considering the qualities of tempera, he created a visual language perfectly suited to express the grandeur and spirituality of the Himalayas.