Nagarjuna, Conqueror of the Serpent 1925

Nicholas Roerich made "Nagarjuna, Conqueror of the Serpent," now hanging in Moscow, by layering thinned oil paints on canvas in broad flat strokes. Just look at that serpent, coiled around the mountain with a luminous deity perched on top! I imagine Roerich, brush in hand, carefully building up the colours in delicate, almost pastel shades. The pinkish, hazy sky, those jagged mountain ranges, and the serene figure in the foreground are all rendered with such precision, such intention. It’s like he’s building a stage, a dream space. The painting has this incredible stillness. The surface is smooth, and light shimmers on that pale, ghostly lake. The repetition of triangular shapes—the peaks of the mountains, the folds of the figure’s cloak, even the deity's form—creates a sense of harmony and balance. Roerich's landscapes often explore spiritual themes, influenced by his interest in theosophy and Eastern religions. Artists, like snakes, coil around each other, building a common mountain of influence and inspiration.