Welcome to the brand new Arthive! Discover a full list of new features here.

Sonata of the sea. Andante

Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis • Painting, 1908, 73×62 cm
Comments
0
About the artwork
Art form: Painting
Subject and objects: Marina, Mythological scene
Style of art: Symbolism
Technique: Tempera
Materials: Paper
Date of creation: 1908
Size: 73×62 cm
Artwork in collection: My collection Tatyana Somova
Artwork in selections: 25 selections

Description of the artwork «Sonata of the sea. Andante»

According to legend, the fame of the Lithuanian artist Čiurlionis began with his Sonata of the Sea. Andante painting.

Čiurlionis, whose paintings have already been exhibited in Vilnius and Kaunas, moved to St. Petersburg. One October afternoon in 1908 Mstislav Dobuzhinsky dropped in to get acquainted with the artist. They were the same age, but at that time Dobuzhinsky was rather famous and influential artist and critic. The day was gloomy and unfriendly. The house where Čiurlionis lived suggested that its owner his master was in complete distress. Fragile and timid Čiurlionis was confused and embarrassed by the poverty, so he did not know where to let the famous guest sit down.

Suddenly Dobuzhinsky saw a sheet of paper measuring approximately 60 x 70 cm. Pinned to the wall, it seemed to spread to whole room its cold and strange light.

Vaguely visible sunken ships and cities rest on the seabed, from where the two lines of pearls or air bubbles rise up. Someone’s hand holds a small sailboat, saving it from absorbing by the abyss. And above this fantastic space two suns radiate yellow-green rays.

Impressed Dobuzhinsky introduced Čiurlionis to the “World of Art” group. Bakst, Lanceret, Benoit, Somov, Makovsky came to see his pastels, etchings and tempera drawings. The musical rhythm of the composition, the ability to convey the depth and mystery of space was so original that Čiurlionis was immediately invited to take part in the exhibition, which Makovsky organized...

To make the perception of the "Sonata of the Sea. Andante" more complete, you need to consider that it is part of the painting suites, or a cycle, consisting of three parts: Allegro, Andante and Final. In "Allegro" we can see the waves rhythmically rolling the coast and the hilly bank resists their pressure. The "Final" shows a powerful storm with raging water. "Sonata of the Sea. Andante" is the quiet part of a trilogy (andante - designation of moderate musical tempo). The sea is already calm, and in this pause between the storms we seem to have the opportunity to think about the past and future, about the eternal and what is washed away by the sea.


Comments