Architectural Elements in the Artwork of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis: A Motif or a Symbol? Cover Image

Architektūros vaizdai Mikalojaus Konstantino Čiurlionio kūryboje: motyvas ar simbolis?
Architectural Elements in the Artwork of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis: A Motif or a Symbol?

Author(s): Neringa Krikščiūnaitė
Subject(s): Education, Architecture, Visual Arts, Recent History (1900 till today), Sociology of Culture
Published by: VšĮ Šiaulių universiteto leidykla
Keywords: Čiurlionis; symbolism; architecture;

Summary/Abstract: The artworks of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis have been chosen as topic of many studies. Various architectural motifs and elements can be seen in many of his pictures. Until now no in-depth analysis has been carried out to clarify their role. The question is whether they appeared because they have a symbolic meaning or whether they serve as a motif. The paintings with architectural elements were analysed in this paper. The following architectural elements were identified: cities (of the past and the future); castles, palaces and towers; Egypt; Lithuanian architecture; other architectural elements. Further two groups were made up and compared using a formalistic, comparative and comparativist method. Two groups, one where architectural elements have a symbolic meaning, and another where architectural elements serve as a motif, were analysed. To sum up, it can be stated that for Čiurlionis, architectural elements had a symbolic meaning (with a few exceptions) and did not serve as a motif.

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 25
  • Page Range: 36-59
  • Page Count: 24
  • Language: Lithuanian