Fugue 1908

Ciurlionis made this painting, "Fugue," using tempera, and the surface has this beautiful, almost distressed texture, like it’s been aged by time. I love how he's built up the image with thin layers of paint, allowing the underlayers to peek through, creating a sense of depth and mystery. Look closely at that line of tiny figures marching along the horizon. Each one is just a little dab of paint, but together they create this powerful sense of movement and rhythm. It reminds me of musical notation, like the figures are notes in a score. The way Ciurlionis balances these delicate details with the overall composition gives the painting this really captivating tension. It brings to mind the work of Marsden Hartley, in the way that he infused his landscapes with spiritual and symbolic meaning. Ultimately, Ciurlionis’ work reminds us that art is a process of layering and building, where each mark contributes to the whole, creating something new and unexpected.