DOI Heft:
No. 325 (April 1920)
DOI Artikel:Jarintzov, Nadine: A Russian painter: N. K. Roerich
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21360#0066
A RUSSIAN PAINTER: N. K.
ROERICH. BY N. JARINTZOV
IN our days the struggle between “ me-
chanical civilisation " and “ the cul-
ture of spirit " (to use Mr. Roerich's own
expressions) is reaching a decisive point.
When an artist to whom it is given to
reflect the colours, the sounds, and the
thoughts engendered in Infinity remains
whole-heartedly within the vibrations link-
ing him with it, he makes them tangible to
all; but it must be a whole-hearted, spon-
taneous attitude on the part of the artist;
only then does he stand as one of the
leaders clearly outlined on the summit of
the mountain where the battle is raging.
One of such leaders is the Russian
Academician, N. K. Roerich. “ Man can-
not be the king of Nature; he is her
pupil. I have never felt inclined to paint
mere portraits. Man's place in the uni-
verse—that is what is important," Mr.
Roerich said to me the other day. This
oneness of mind and heart with the artistic
gift is the key to the convincingness of
his creations. They fill you with the desire
of hearkening, expectant, to the whispers
of Eternity. The silence of Roerich's
northern waterways speaks. The weight
of his rocks and ancient walls breathes
life. a a a a a a
“ Wonderful landscapes i " No, it is
not the landscape itself. Nearly always
there is somewhere, often most unobtru-
sive, a human figure, or figures, doing
something full of meaning. And yet their
action is not the main thing either ; it is
not underlined by the artist, there is no
finesse, no intended subtlety ; it is simply
“ Man's place in the Universe." In other
words, the only thing that matters. a
Everything in Roerich's works, viewed
from the ordinary standpoint, looks fan-
tastic ; yet all meets the eye of the on-
looker as if it has always existed in the
hidden depths of his own vision. Therein,
in spite of the essentially Russian forms,
Roerich is not only Russian, but human
in the broadest sense. He is above theory,
above tendency, even above style as such.
He is not a follower of any other artist,
"THE CALL OF THE BELLS”
(FROM THE “OLD PSKOV” SERIES)
BY NICOLAS ROERICH
6o
ROERICH. BY N. JARINTZOV
IN our days the struggle between “ me-
chanical civilisation " and “ the cul-
ture of spirit " (to use Mr. Roerich's own
expressions) is reaching a decisive point.
When an artist to whom it is given to
reflect the colours, the sounds, and the
thoughts engendered in Infinity remains
whole-heartedly within the vibrations link-
ing him with it, he makes them tangible to
all; but it must be a whole-hearted, spon-
taneous attitude on the part of the artist;
only then does he stand as one of the
leaders clearly outlined on the summit of
the mountain where the battle is raging.
One of such leaders is the Russian
Academician, N. K. Roerich. “ Man can-
not be the king of Nature; he is her
pupil. I have never felt inclined to paint
mere portraits. Man's place in the uni-
verse—that is what is important," Mr.
Roerich said to me the other day. This
oneness of mind and heart with the artistic
gift is the key to the convincingness of
his creations. They fill you with the desire
of hearkening, expectant, to the whispers
of Eternity. The silence of Roerich's
northern waterways speaks. The weight
of his rocks and ancient walls breathes
life. a a a a a a
“ Wonderful landscapes i " No, it is
not the landscape itself. Nearly always
there is somewhere, often most unobtru-
sive, a human figure, or figures, doing
something full of meaning. And yet their
action is not the main thing either ; it is
not underlined by the artist, there is no
finesse, no intended subtlety ; it is simply
“ Man's place in the Universe." In other
words, the only thing that matters. a
Everything in Roerich's works, viewed
from the ordinary standpoint, looks fan-
tastic ; yet all meets the eye of the on-
looker as if it has always existed in the
hidden depths of his own vision. Therein,
in spite of the essentially Russian forms,
Roerich is not only Russian, but human
in the broadest sense. He is above theory,
above tendency, even above style as such.
He is not a follower of any other artist,
"THE CALL OF THE BELLS”
(FROM THE “OLD PSKOV” SERIES)
BY NICOLAS ROERICH
6o