“Whispers of Desert (Story about New Era)” is a symbolic artwork by Nicholas Roerich, created in 1925. It is a genre painting, executed on canvas using tempera, representing the Symbolism movement. The artwork measures 73 by 101 cm and is part of the “Maitreya” series. It is housed in the Nizhny Novgorod State Museum of Fine Arts located in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
The artwork features a dramatic landscape, marked by bold contrasts and a dynamic composition. The foreground is dominated by dark, geometric shapes of tents set against a deep blue and purple color scheme. These tents appear to be in a state of stillness under a nocturnal sky, and one of them includes a horse that seems to be emerging from its enclosure, imbued with a sense of urgency or movement. Human figures are depicted in various stances, some gathered in groups, possibly engaged in conversation or contemplation, while others are positioned in solitude, contributing to the overall enigmatic and mystical quality of the scene.
In the background, majestic mountains rise steeply, their peaks rendered in lighter hues, suggesting the presence of snow and ice. These contrasting colors create a tension between the warmth of human activity in the valley and the cold, sublime nature of the high mountains above. The use of color and light reveals Roerich’s mastery in capturing the transcendence and profundity of the natural world, themes that are often explored in works of the Symbolism art movement, where artists aimed to depict the mystical or otherworldly aspects of experience.
“Whispers of Desert (Story about New Era)” can be interpreted as a narrative of spiritual or philosophical significance, a characteristic trait of Roerich’s oeuvre, which frequently delved into esoteric and theosophical subjects. The scene hints at a convergence of epochs or a dialogue between civilizations, as suggested by the artwork’s title, indicating that this may be a visionary portrayal of profound global or cosmic transformation.
