The artwork titled “The tsar-bell” is a creation by Nicholas Roerich from the year 1919. It belongs to the Symbolism movement and is categorized as a sketch and study. This artwork provides a unique glance into Roerich’s artistic process and the thematic elements that may have intrigued him during this period.
The artwork presents two schematic sketches of bells. On the left, there is a front view of a bell, displaying its internal cavity and the clapper. To the right, another sketch depicts the bell’s profile, accentuating its exterior surface and the shape it presents when viewed from the side. Both sketches have a freehand quality, with visible lines and strokes that indicate the fluidity of the artist’s hand and thought process. Annotations and measurements suggest that Roerich was contemplating not only the aesthetic but also the structural aspects of the bell he was envisioning. The paper on which the sketches are made has a textured appearance, and the rough, spontaneous line work imbues the study with a sense of immediacy and the artist’s interaction with his material and subject matter.
