“Study to ‘Building a City,'” created in 1902 by the artist Nicholas Roerich, belongs to the Realism art movement and falls under the genre of sketch and study. The artwork depicts a preliminary study likely used by the artist to explore composition, form, and color for a larger or more refined piece.
The artwork portrays structures that appear to be in various stages of completion or construction, rendered in dark tones and shades. The buildings are depicted with a certain degree of abstraction, allowing the underlying textures and forms to suggest the architecture without meticulous detail. The color palette is rich yet muted, dominated by earthy browns and greens, with touches of blue and black that add depth and shadow. The overall ambiance conveys a sense of quiet, almost meditative contemplation, characteristic of a study or preparatory work.
