The artwork titled “Santana” by Nicholas Roerich, created in 1937, is a symbolic painting characteristic of the Symbolism movement. It is housed in the Sree Chitra Art Gallery located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
The painting captures a serene and mystical landscape adorned with vibrant, overlapping mountains in hues of pink and purple. A gentle river flows through the middle, cascading into a tranquil waterfall. Amidst this idyllic backdrop sits a solitary, contemplative figure, likely a sage or mystic, situated on a rock beside the waterfall. The artist employs vivid colors and dramatic contrasts to evoke a sense of spirituality and connection with the natural world. The combination of the natural elements with the solitary figure underscores the symbolic nuances often explored in Roerich’s works, inviting viewers to ponder the deeper meaning and the transcendental calm permeating the scene.
