The artwork titled “Monhegan (study)” was crafted by the artist Nicholas Roerich in the year 1922, during his time in the United States. Belonging to the Symbolism movement, the piece is categorized as a sketch and study. This work demonstrates the practice of exploring ideas and forms that an artist undertakes before completing a fully realized painting, capturing the essence of a subject with brevity and fluidity characteristic of a study.
The artwork reveals a simplistic yet evocative landscape, rendered through a series of confident lines that suggest the contours of a rugged terrain. The linework varies in thickness, providing a sense of depth and form to the depicted scene. Foreground elements seem to be indicated with stronger, bolder lines, while the background features appear to fade into the distance with lighter, more suggestive strokes. The absence of color or shading in this sketch focuses the viewer’s attention entirely on the composition and movement within the piece. Sparse annotations or markings on the drawing may indicate dimensions, perspectives, or notes for the artist’s reference when moving towards a more detailed work. Overall, this study exudes a sense of immediacy and intimacy, granting a glimpse into Roerich’s creative process and his interpretive vision of the landscape.
