The artwork titled “Fight with the dragon” is a creation by Nicholas Roerich, made in the year 1914. This mythological painting is crafted using watercolor on cardboard and reflects the stylistic elements of the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement. The piece is housed in the Moskow Art Theatre Museum, located in Moscow, Russia.
Describing the artwork reveals a vivid composition dominated by various shades of pink and purple, constituting an intense and fantastical scene. It is replete with intricate patterns and symbolic motifs that create a rich tapestry of visual elements. At the center of the composition, there appears to be a dynamic encounter, ostensibly a battle, between human figures and a fantastical creature that suggests the presence of a dragon as indicated by the title. The human figures are mounted on horses and seem engaged in combat, with the tension of the conflict palpable through their poses and the arrangement of surrounding shapes and forms.
The surrounding borders and background of the artwork are filled with diverse decorative elements that are reminiscent of traditional folk art and convey a sense of cultural and historical depth. These elements also suggest a narrative quality, as if the artwork is not only depicting a scene but also telling a story steeped in mythological tradition. The use of flat planes of color and absence of traditional perspective give the scene a dreamlike and otherworldly ambiance, which is characteristic of Roerich’s symbolic and mystical approach to art.
