Mikolajus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
1875 - 1911

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The below souvenir sheet and two stamps were among the first of his works to be issued on stamps, all showing highly symbolic paintings, based on his musical compositions, and reflecting his strong inner wish of freedom for Lithuania, who was then part of the Russian Empire. He never lived to see Lithuania as a free country. 

• Lithuania 1996.  M.K. Ciurlionis: "The Cemetery" (Kapines). 1909.
• Lithuania 1996.  Composition by M.K. Ciurlionis (1900-1901).  The artist's specialty was to compose music, and then "paint the music", or create a painting, and then compose appropriate music, describing the painting. The note sheet in the background is one of his compositions. 
• Lithuania 1996.  M.K. Ciurlionis "Auka". (The Sacrifice). 1909.

From 1907 Čiurlionis lived in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he devoted his life exclusively to painting. In 1909 he married the Lithuanian writer Sofija Kymantaitė, and had a daughter by her, Danutė, in 1910. During the years 1910-11 he exhibited continuously his works in Vilnius, Riga, Minsk, Moscow, and Kiev. 

• Lithuania 2000.  FDC and souvenir sheet issued at the occasion of the 125th Birth Anniversary of M.K. Ciurlionis.  The cover is cancelled in Kaunas on  22nd Sept. 1875, and the cancel shows the artist's signature.  The cachet is a pen drawing showing his self portrait, see also the top of this page.  The painting is named "The Path to Eternity".  

Quotation from the inlaid card in the First Day Cover:  "The most known Lithuanian figure of art: painter, composer - composer of professional music, author of the first Lithuanian symphonic poems, cultural worker.

His work reflects various trends in art, oversteps the limits of national culture, and is considered the greatest contribution of the Lithuanians to the global culture.  It is impossible to categorize Ciurlionis within "normal" art styles.   He was, and remained, truly his own, well founded in the East European World of Imagery, boundless fantasy, and laconic thoughts, all based on the Lithuanian people's constant wish for freedom and independence from Soviet sovereignty.   Lithuania 1993.  M.K. Ciurlionis: "Unity Day in Lithuania" (Pasaulio Lietuviu Vienybes Diena). (1907).

On 24th September 2005 Lithuania issued this nice block in commemoration of the artist's 130th birth anniversary. The paintings are very interesting art works, reflecting the artist's devotion to both music and visual arts.

• Lithuania 2005. 
  • Portrait with the artist's signature (label with no postal value). Even his signature is significantly dramatic, reflecting the soft, but strong sounds of music. 
  • Sonata of the Sea, 1908. Allegro. 
  • Sonata of the Sea, 1908. Andante. 
  • Sonata of the Sea, 1908. Finale. 

Ciurlionis died on 5th October 1911, only 36 years old, from a pneumonia, leaving his wife and infant daughter behind. His total output through his much too short career was enormous; during his short lifetime he made about 200 musical compositions and 300 different paintings, very original and fragile, many of them based on his musical compositions.  Most of his works are maintained at the museum bearing his name, in Kaunas, Lithuania, and he is today considered one of Lithuania's most important artists ever.    

Sources and links:

• "Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis" by Valerija Ciurlionyte-Karuziene and Judita Grigiene, Vilnius 1977. ISBN 80103-265  
• Ciurlionis Museum, Kaunas 
• Lithuanian Stamps about the Battle of Grunwald

Other Symbolist artists on this site:

• Ivan Agueli (Swedish painter)

• Arnold Böcklin (Swiss painter) 

• Nicholas Roerich (Russian painter) 

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