Painting

Life Imitates Art – M. K. Čiurlionis’ Paintings and Hubble Telescope Photos

Guest Author 22 September 2023 min Read

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.

Čiurlionis space: Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Lithuanian Graveyard with the visible Big Dipper, 1909, M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania.  

Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Lithuanian Graveyard with the visible Big Dipper, 1909, M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania.  

M. K. Čiurlionis’ Interest in Cosmology

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.

Creation of the World

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.

AdVertisment

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.

AdVertisment

Kings in Space

Another resemblance to Hubble’s photos sneaks up on us in a music-space cycle Sonata ISonata 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!

AdVertisment

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?

AdVertisment

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 Museum of Arts, with a goal to introduce the undiscovered genius that was M. K. Čiurlionis to the world.

Get your daily dose of art

Click and follow us on Google News to stay updated all the time

Recommended

Depictions of Circe. John William Waterhouse, Circe Invidiosa, 1892, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide SA, Australia. Painting

Mythological Sorceress: 10 Stunning Depictions of Circe in Art

Circe, one of the most powerful witches in ancient Greek mythology, is a captivating figure. She appears prominently in Homer’s Odyssey and has...

Errika Gerakiti 14 April 2025

Edward Weston, Cabbage Leaf, 1931, Private Collection, Wikimedia. Painting

The Cabbage Chronicles: From Still Life to Surreal Dreams

Cabbage—it’s not just for coleslaw and questionable soups. This leafy legend has been making waves in art history for centuries, captured in...

Joanna Kaszubowska 24 March 2025

Painting

The First Abstract Expressionists: Carl Jung and Hilma af Klint

Before the art world embraced her as a pioneer of Abstract Expressionism, Hilma af Klint hid her revolutionary works behind layers of secrecy, driven...

Guest Author 20 March 2025

Painting

Susanna Horenbout: Forgotten Female Artist at the Tudor Court

The Horenbouts were a family of Flemish painters who came to England in the 1520s. The most famous, Gerard (father) and Lucas (son), were employed as...

Guest Author 10 March 2025