Tulola valley 1918

Nicholas Roerich painted “Tulola Valley” with what looks like oil on canvas, and the way he's layered these blues and greens, it's not just about representation; it’s about building an atmosphere, a feeling, right? The texture here isn’t shouting, but it’s there. The paint isn’t too thick, not impasto, but you can see how he’s dragged the brush to create form, especially in the foreground hill, creating these striations. This dark plane, its shadow, brings everything forward, almost pushing us back from the lighter greens and blues of the valley itself. I can almost feel the cool air. It reminds me of Marsden Hartley, the way he used color to convey emotion and a sense of place. Roerich’s painting is an invitation to slow down and just breathe in the colors, the textures, and the space, and to maybe consider all the different ways of seeing and experiencing the world. Art is just that ongoing conversation, constantly influencing and inspiring.