Description
M.K. Čiurlionis. Creation of the World (Cycle: The Creation), c. 1905–1906. Part IX of the thirteen-painting cycle. Original painting dimensions: 36.5 x 30.5 cm; Čt 190.
The cycle The Creation is a painted myth of the birth of the universe—one of the most profound and powerful cycles in M.K. Čiurlionis’s entire legacy. Each painting represents a step toward ultimate harmony. Part IX is one of the most dramatic segments of the cycle—a moment when the world is nearing completion, a culmination where order is born: earth, sky, and time.
“The world is a vast canvas upon which we each leave our mark.” (M.K. Čiurlionis)
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875–1911) was a visionary Lithuanian artist who left an indelible mark on both Lithuanian culture and the history of European Modernism. A painter, composer, and writer, he was a universal creator whose life spanned only 35 years, yet whose legacy remains immense. Creating at the crossroads of Symbolism and Modernism, Čiurlionis is internationally recognized as one of the pioneers of early abstract art. He was the first Lithuanian artist to synthesize music and painting into a singular artistic language; thus, his works are frequently described as “painted music.” His creations encapsulate the Lithuanian spirit, deeply rooted in the nation’s culture and the mystical beauty of its nature.
Created in collaboration with the M.K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art.




