Morning 1904

Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis made "Morning" sometime around the turn of the century, likely in pastel, with vigorous marks in luminescent greens and yellows. You know, I can just imagine Ciurlionis standing here, thinking about music, landscape, and symbol, all at once. He’s trying to find a way to express something beyond what we already know, in a way that’s both felt and seen. Look how the radiating lines suggest a sunrise and also a kind of awakening! The figure seems to be emerging from a musical instrument, with the head of a bird. It's kind of scary and kind of funny. Maybe it’s the artist himself? I feel like there's an attempt here to capture something of the soul in paint. It reminds me of other early modern painters, people like Munch or Klimt, who were also reaching for something beyond representation. It's all about expressing a feeling, a mood, a state of mind. The painting feels like a conversation, not only with the viewer, but with all other painters, both past and future.