30 June 2026 min Read
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Creation of the World (II), 1905-1906, M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania. Detail.
The stars, the moon, the sun—all celestial bodies have inspired art for centuries. However, as we look at Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis’ space paintings, we can see that the creative mind of an artist can sometimes foresee what science discovers decades later. His paintings, created at the beginning of the 20th century, seem to resemble what we know from modern space research programs—in Hubble and Webb’s images.
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Lithuanian Graveyard with the Visible Big Dipper, 1909, M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania.
The Lithuanian Symbolist painter M. K. Čiurlionis was interested in everything he could get his hands on, so space and concepts on planet formation were no exceptions. It is known that he was enthralled by French astronomer‘s Camille Flammarion (1842–1925) writings and ideas regarding topics such as life and vegetation on Mars, and the possibility of life to transcend universes (layering of the cosmos). While Flammarion’s research was not so concrete and more on the spiritual side, we can look at now-proven theories formed by Pierre-Simon Laplace (1749–1827) and Immanuel Kant (1724–1804). These two scientists and philosophers offered their views concerning the formation and evolution of the solar system: the nebular hypothesis.
In his 13-painting cycle Creation of the World (1905/1906), Čiurlionis explores the idea of the formation of the world. One of the paintings in the cycle shows the hand of God and the words “Aris”. In the series, we also see a possible God with a billowing pipe of gas which it strangely reminiscent of Hubble’s photo of colliding gases in the Running Man nebula.
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Creation of the World (IV), 1905–1906, M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Shock Wave of Colliding Gases in Running Man Nebula, 2021, Photographed by Hubble Telescope. Credits: NASA, ESA, J. Bally (University of Colorado at Boulder), and DSS; Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America). Source: NASA’s website.
In his 13-painting cycle Creation of the World (1905/1906), Čiurlionis explores the idea of of the formation of the world. One of the paintings in the cycle shows the hand of God and the words “Let it be”. In the series, we also see a possible God with a billowing pipe of gas.
The painting is strangely reminiscent of Hubble’s photo of colliding gases in the Running Man nebula.
Of course, it is far-fetched, but Hubble’s image sure looks like a bowed head with a crown (even if it is just various gases clumped together) and resembles the painting created 100 years before. Here, people who are not so versed in astronomy might ask: Why are we placing so much importance on gas in space?
If we follow the nebular hypothesis (which was suggested by Pierre-Simon Laplace and whom M. K. Čiurlionis read), the universe was formed from gas and dust. (This might be the reason why Čiurlionis created a painting with God and his pipe with billowing smoke.) As the gases clump together, we see a new planet forming (which is depicted in the second painting of the series). Even though Čiurlionis painted this before modern telescopes and the possibility to accurately capture any forming stars, if we look at Hubble’s photos, we are shocked to discover the uncanny similarities, especially regarding the blue hues.
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Creation of the World (II), 1905–1906, M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Chamaeleon Cloud I (from the Star-Forming of the Chamaeleon Cloud Complex), 2022, Photographed by Hubble Telescope. Credit: NASA, ESA, K. Luhman and T. Esplin (Pennsylvania State University), et al., and ESO; Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America). Source: NASA’s website.
As the gases clump together, we see a new planet forming (which is depicted in the second painting of the series).
Even though Čiurlionis painted this before modern telescopes and the possibility to accurately capture any forming stars, if we look at Hubble’s photos, we are shocked to discover the uncanny similarities, especially regarding the blue hues.
Another resemblance to Hubble’s photos sneaks up on us in a music-space cycle Sonata I—Sonata of the Sun (1907). In this sonata, Čiurlionis paints a cycle of the sun—from small stars (suns) to its death (which is symbolized by a still bell). Of course, the second image—Andante attracts us with the grandiosity of the sun and its flares. Look at the similarity between Čiurlionis’ space painting and NASA’s photo from 2000. Even the storm swirls in similar patterns!
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Adante from Sonata no. 1 (Sonata of the Sun), 1907, M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania.
The Image of Ultraviolet Light Radiating from the Solar Atmosphere at the Last Solar Maximum, 2000. Images courtesy SOHO, the EIT Consortium, and the MDI Team. Source: NASA’s website.
In this sonata, Čiurlionis paints a cycle of the sun—from small stars (suns) to its death (which is symbolized by a still bell). Of course, the second image—Andante attracts us with the grandiosity of the sun and its flares.
Look at the similarity between Čiurlionis’ space painting and NASA’s photo from 2000. Even the storm swirls in similar patterns!
In the Finale, we see not only an image that was captured later but also the idea of the cosmic web or galaxy filaments (as they are called now). This is something which was not known at beginning of the 20th century. Čiurlionis, while probably trying to show the stillness of the bell, unintentionally depicted the cosmic structure that was discovered in the late 1980s.
Now let’s get back to Hubble’s photos: Have you heard of Pillars of Creation?
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Finale from Sonata no. 1 (Sonata of the Sun), 1907, M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Pillars of Creation, 2022. Image Credit: Science – NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, NIRCam. Source: NASA’s website.
In the Finale, we see not only an image that was captured later but also the idea of the cosmic web or galaxy filaments (as they are called now). This is something which was not known at beginning of the 20th century.
Čiurlionis, while probably trying to show the stillness of the bell, unintentionally depicted the cosmic structure that was discovered in the late 1980s.
If you look at Čiurlionis’ painting Finale, we see kings sleeping on pillar thrones. In his work, kings (especially kings in space) represented the Rulers or Creators of the world. Now, 100 years later, we see a similar structure in the image of the Pillars of Creation.
It is no question that at the time M. K. Čiurlionis was creating, space and galaxy studies were attractive to everyone and it’s no wonder to see him inspired by it as well. Nevertheless, it is stunning to see that the ideas and motifs he created are not so far off from reality. As Hubble and other telescopes continue photographing the depths of the universe, we are left to wonder: What else will they capture that might be similar?
Guest Author’s bio:
Greta Katkeviciene is an employee of M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, with a goal to introduce the undiscovered genius that was M. K. Čiurlionis to the world.
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Bec is an art nerd, bicycle enthusiast, cat mom, artist/crafter/maker from sunny Toronto, Canada.
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