“The Doomed City,” created by Nicholas Roerich in 1914, is a mythological painting that belongs to the Symbolism art movement. This artwork is housed in the Omsk Regional Museum of Fine Arts, commonly known as the Vrubel Museum, located in Omsk, Russia.
The artwork depicts an ethereal and almost surreal landscape dominated by a vivid representation of a serpent-like creature, which appears to be menacing a city constructed in ancient architectural styles. The setting includes a backdrop of undulating hills and a mountainous terrain, painted in deep, mystical hues of purple and blue. The city itself, with its intricately designed arches and edifices, stands starkly against the stark and ominous surroundings. This painting vividly encapsulates the essence of Symbolism, with its use of mythological and allegorical themes to provoke a deeper contemplation on the fate and doom of civilizations.
