The artwork, titled “Study ‘Cry of the Serpent,'” was created by Nicholas Roerich in 1914. Belonging to the Symbolism art movement, this sketch and study piece represents a distinct example of Roerich’s artistic exploration during the early 20th century.
The artwork features a landscape dominated by jagged, mountainous forms rendered in varying shades of blue and violet, which rise dramatically against a sky filled with ochre and yellow hues. Among these peaks, multiple red, serpent-like entities seem to emerge and ascend the rugged terrain, evoking a sense of mysticism and otherworldly presence. The composition, with its bold use of contrasting colors and symbolic imagery, creates an ethereal, almost mystical atmosphere, drawing viewers into its enigmatic narrative. The symbolism inherent in the serpentine figures juxtaposed with the stark, formidable mountains suggests a potent, perhaps allegorical, commentary on nature, power, and transcendence.
