Monday, February 13, 2023

Mystic-Symbolist-Moderne Nicholas Roerich

Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947), also Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh (in Russia), was, according to this lengthy Wikipedia entry, a "painter, writer, archaeologist, theosophist, philosopher, and public figure."

In today's post, I'll deal with some of his paintings, ignoring the rest as best I can. That's because his philosophical/spiritual beliefs are not on my conceptual radar.

He toured central Asia 1925-29, getting as far as Tibet, which later became a prime subject of his paintings.  He spent time in India during World War 2, and later died there.

Roerich's style was predominately simplified-representational, his later Himalayan-based scenes reminding me of the arctic paintings of Rockwell Kent.  Earlier work was less so, in part because his style was evolving, as it usually is for painters.  Many of his works were in tempera, rather than oil.

Gallery

Overseas Visitors - 1901
Painted about four years after completing his art training (and earning a degree in law).  Shown are Swedes invading what is now Russia.

Battle in the Heavens - 1912
1930s American-style solidities, but painted 20 years before.  If you look closely, some of the cloud forms are of humans.  I think that detracts a bit from an otherwise interesting work.

Putivl - 1914
It seems he was trying out a different style here.

Repentence - 1917
Heavy, simple, solid subject matter with a dash of symbolism added.

St Mercurius of Smolensk - 1918
This has more than a whiff of Russian icons, but the subject called for that.

Sacred Caves - 1932
Very symbolic, very 1932.

Stronghold of the Spirit (Path to Kailas Monestery) - 1932
Most of the image has simple shapes.  A few figures appear in the foreground to express the path idea.  

Kuan-Yin - 1933
The bcakground reminds me of Caspar David Friedrich's 1824 Eismeer.

Tibet Himalayas - 1933
The mountains have a strong Rockwell Kent feeling.  The structures offer a nice counterpoint.

Lhasa - 1942

Shekar-Dzong
No date on this, but it's nice to see no snow and ice for once.  (Many of Roerich's paintings found via Internet image searches are of icy Himalayan peaks.)

No comments:

Post a Comment