Creation of the World VI 1906

Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis made Creation of the World VI with tempera on paper, and what strikes me right away is its ghostly, almost aquatic feel. The blues and purples are so soft, everything seems to be emerging from a dream. I love how the paint is laid down in these thin, washy layers, allowing the texture of the paper to peek through. It’s like he's not trying to hide the process but instead, celebrates it, making the surface feel alive. See those vertical strokes in the center? They're like pillars or maybe even trees, but they're not quite defined, leaving space for our imaginations to wander. They are so translucent, so ethereal. Ciurlionis was really interested in music, and you can almost hear a melody in this painting. It reminds me a bit of Odilon Redon's dreamscapes, that same sense of mystery and inner vision. Ultimately, the piece isn't about answers. It's about the questions, the possibilities, the sheer wonder of creation.