“Waiting,” a tempera on canvas artwork created by Nicholas Roerich around 1917, embodies the era of Symbolism within the genre painting category. The artwork features an individual seated in contemplation, amidst a serene, snow-covered landscape, delineating a sense of anticipation or solitude.
The composition prominently captures an isolated figure, swathed in warm clothing, sitting on a snow-covered rock. The background is dominated by vast expanses of snow and distant mountainous formations, painted in hues of blue and white, which seamlessly blend with the sky. The serene landscape, dotted with soft, sweeping clouds, underscores the feeling of solitude experienced by the figure. The subtle use of tempera enhances the tranquil and mystical ambiance, aligning with the Symbolist movement’s aesthetic and thematic concerns.