The artwork titled “One who safeguards” is a piece by Nicholas Roerich, an artist associated with the Symbolism movement. This genre painting measures 45.2 x 75.8 cm and is held in a private collection.
Depicted within the artwork is a dramatic landscape dominated by intense hues, primarily of red and yellow, creating a scene imbued with a mystical or otherworldly aura characteristic of Symbolism. At the forefront, a figure draped in yellow garments bends over, appearing to interact with or tend to something on the ground, although the exact nature of the action is not immediately clear, invoking the viewer’s curiosity and interpretation. The background showcases a series of angular, almost jagged mountain forms that ascend toward a fortified city or settlement. The juxtaposition of the soft, flowing lines of the figure’s clothing against the stark, harsh lines of the landscape emphasizes a contrast between the human element and the surrounding environment. The overall palette is warm, dominated by the reds and yellows, which gives the painting a sense of urgency or intensity. The city in the distance appears almost dreamlike, reinforcing the symbolic and surreal quality of the artwork.
