Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
Even though we see the astrological sign depicted, the meaning of the painting is mostly astronomical. Lithuanian artist and composer M. K. Čiurlionis was interested in astronomy, he read C. Flammarion (who studied celestial movements) and closely followed astronomical news such as Immanuel Kant’s and Laplace’s theories about the forming of space and space bodies. The composer-painter even had the hobby of signing the month as the corresponding astronomical or astrological sign.
The maturity of the Zodiac painting cycle, evidenced by the fluid forms of expression and the monumentality of the compositions, makes this an epic collection. We see the fluctuation of the sun as the earth moves around it.
As we celebrate M. K. Čiurlionis birthday today, we notice that his sign would be Virgo. M. K. Čiurlionis was born in Lithuania, which was occupied by the Russian empire at the time. It followed the Julian calendar, which meant that Čiurlionis had two birthday dates: 10th September by the old Julian calendar and 22nd September by the new Gregorian calendar. He knew this doubling and even joked about it.
We present today's work thanks to the M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art.<3
P.S. If you like this painting, we encourage you delve with us into the fantasy world of M. K. Čiurlionis!