Elders Gathering 1898

Editor: Here we have Nicholas Roerich’s “Elders Gathering,” a charcoal drawing created in 1898. I’m immediately drawn to the figures; they seem cloaked and almost hidden within this somber, possibly sacred, landscape. What is your reading of this piece? Curator: Roerich’s choice of charcoal is quite telling here. It speaks to a certain immediacy and accessibility, a deliberate move away from the preciousness often associated with "high art" materials like oil paint. Given that this is titled "Elders Gathering," what does the materiality of the work say about the nature of that gathering? Editor: That’s a great point; I hadn’t considered that. Perhaps the choice of charcoal emphasizes a down-to-earth quality, suggesting a practical or communal aspect to the elders' gathering, moving away from idealizing wisdom and emphasizing labour instead. Curator: Precisely. Also, consider the process of creating a charcoal drawing – rubbing, smudging, erasing. It mirrors a process of concealing and revealing, highlighting the hand of the artist and the performative labour of making. Do you think Roerich might be using this medium to subtly critique societal perceptions of aging, where the value of labour gradually reduces? Editor: Interesting. I suppose, visually, the darkness and somewhat obscured details contribute to a feeling of anonymity, almost as if their individual contributions have been somewhat erased. Perhaps he’s highlighting the collective labor rather than individual prowess, like in the arts and crafts movement which sought value in traditional processes? Curator: Exactly. The focus is not on the individual heroic act but the collective’s process. The very act of creating this work with such modest materials elevates a gathering usually absent from high art depictions. Editor: I see it now! The materials used, and the method of using them, highlight the value in labour and tradition. I'll certainly look at art materials differently moving forward! Curator: Likewise. Looking at art from a material perspective always reveals hidden dimensions.