The Rite of Spring # 32 (The Rite of Spring) Roerich N.K. (Part 6)
Roerich N.K. – The Rite of Spring # 32 (The Rite of Spring)
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Location: State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg (Государственный Русский Музей).
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The painting was painted in 1945, signifying not just spring, but victory over a terrible and bloody war. Roerich is distinguished in this painting by a radiant, bright glow. This is a true Russian spring, a triumph of peace over war. All the heroes of the canvas are depicted in light clothes, they are girls. Genuine Russian beauties, leading a round dance. In its center stands their chosen one, a girl with a long, below-the-waist, dark plait, into which are woven yellow flowers.
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Description of the painting "Sacred Spring" by Nikolai Roerich
The painting was painted in 1945, signifying not just spring, but victory over a terrible and bloody war. Roerich is distinguished in this painting by a radiant, bright glow. This is a true Russian spring, a triumph of peace over war. All the heroes of the canvas are depicted in light clothes, they are girls. Genuine Russian beauties, leading a round dance. In its center stands their chosen one, a girl with a long, below-the-waist, dark plait, into which are woven yellow flowers. In her hands she holds a garland of yellow, like small suns, dandelion-like inflorescences. On the heads of all the girls in the round dance are wreaths of the same flowers.
The light garments of the round dance participants are lined with red ornaments below, indicating the Old Slavic customs. And next to them sit resting men and young very young boys. Someone plays for the girls on the flute, someone just looks at their joyful dance. The circle is led around a large stone, with the center one of them standing on the stone. On the hill where the dance takes place, dandelions are blooming everywhere. The river begins in the background, its light blue surface smooth, without a single wave.
It seems that it is just now dawn, because people are still in shadow, but in some places the bright glare of the sun, yellow and lush, is already appearing. There are trees growing on the right side, forming a small forest on the mountainside. In the background you can see the mountain, also green, like the grass in the foreground. The sky here is light, almost gray, all indicative of early morning. Early morning at the moment of the triumph of spring over winter, of peace over war.
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The landscape is rendered with simplified forms and bold color choices. A body of water stretches into the distance, flanked by hills densely populated with trees. The sky above is a pale blue, contributing to an overall sense of spaciousness and clarity. The artist’s use of flattened perspective and limited depth creates a stage-like effect, drawing attention to the central action.
The composition suggests themes of community, tradition, and connection to nature. The uniformity of dress implies a shared identity or belonging within the group. The elevated position of the figures on the grassy mound reinforces their symbolic importance, suggesting they are intermediaries between the human realm and something larger – perhaps a primal force or spiritual entity.
The color palette is significant; white often symbolizes purity or transcendence, while red can represent vitality, passion, or sacrifice. This combination hints at a complex interplay of opposing forces within the ritual itself. The stylized rendering of the landscape further emphasizes the symbolic nature of the scene, moving beyond mere representation to convey deeper meanings related to fertility, renewal, and the cyclical rhythms of life.
The dark void that frames the image creates an isolating effect, emphasizing the self-contained nature of this gathering and suggesting a separation from the outside world. The overall impression is one of solemnity and mystery, inviting contemplation on the enduring power of ritual and its role in human experience.