Autumn 1902 – early 1904

Čiurlionis lived in Warsaw, and studied at Jan Kauzik’s drawing school. By giving private lessons, he supported his younger brothers continuing their education there.

In the autumn 1903, he painted Funeral Symphony, a cycle of seven paintings. He began composing the symphonic poem The Sea. In order to dedicate himself fully to art studies, he turned down Emili Młynarski’s proposal to teach at the Warsaw Institute of Music.

Spring – summer 1904

Čiurlionis began his studies at the Warsaw School of Art, which was headed by Kazimieras Stabrauskas, an artist of Lithuanian descent. Karol Tichy and Konrad Krzyżanowski taught drawing, Ksawery Dunikowski sculpture and Ferdynand Ruszczyc painting. During his studies Čiurlionis created the book cover designs Cottage Beyond the Village, In Autumn, The Thought and Towers, and completed the paintings The Bell, Island and The Temple.

At the same time he led the school choir.

Čiurlionis participated in the school’s exhibition with his stained-glass designs, a cycle of six paintings called Storm, and book cover designs (19 works in all).

In the summer of the same year, he went to a plein-air organised by the school in Arkadia, near łowicz (Poland).

Autumn – winter 1904

Čiurlionis composed variation cycles for piano Sefaa Esec and Besacas.

Spring 1905

An exhibition of Čiurlionis’ works was held at the school. Displayed was Fantasies, a cycle of ten paintings. In his letter to Povilas, written in April 1905, he mentioned his other works painted in 1904 – 1905 (64 in all), among them the cycle of five paintings Deluge, the triptych Rex, Rustle of the Forest, and News.

June 1905

Čiurlionis took part in the first annual exhibition of the Warsaw School of Art with his cycle Storm and other paintings.

Summer 1905

He spent his vacation with the Wolman family in Anapa by the Black Sea. He travelled in the Caucasus, painted and took photographs.

Autumn 1905

Čiurlionis lived in Warsaw with his brother Stasys. He continued his studies at the School of Art, and made a living by giving private lessons.

He began leading the choir of the Warsaw Lithuanians’ Society for Mutual Assistance.

End of 1905

Čiurlionis went to the artists’ residence in Ribiniškės (Latvia), which was funded by patron of art E. Kerbedienė. He spent Christmas in Druskininkai.

Beginning of 1906

He lived in Druskininkai, arranged Lithuanian folk songs. In a letter to his brother Povilas, he wrote that has decided to “dedicate all his past and future works to Lithuania.” At the time the idea to write a Lithuanian opera was born.

May 1906

Čiurlionis took part in an exhibition of works by the students of the Warsaw School of Art in St Petersburg, with his cycles Creation of the World, A Day and Storm, the diptych Rex (it has not survived), and others. Art critics took note of his extraordinary paintings.

June 1906

The first article on Čiurlionis appeared in Vilniaus žinios (No. 123).

Summer – autumn 1906

He took part in a plein-air organised by a school in Istebna (in the Carpathians, then under Austrian rule).

The same year, he spent the summer in Krynitsa with the Wolman family. At the time he wrote his literary Letters to Dievdurakėlis.

Supported by Bronislawa Wolman, he travelled in Europe visiting Prague, Dresden, Nuremberg, Munich and Vienna. He was fascinated by the works of Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Arnold Böcklin he saw in museums. At the time he worked on sketches for The Zodiac cycle. He received an invitation to participate in the First Exhibition of Lithuanian Art.

Late 1906 – early 1907

Čiurlionis left the School of Art. He sent his works to the First Exhibition of Lithuanian Art in Vilnius and helped to organise it. For the exhibition he presented the cycles Creation of the World and Storm, triptych Rex, and eight fluor etchings (33 works in all).

Written by Nijolė Adomavičienė

Translated by Sonata Zubovienė