Demons play a very important role in the work of symbolist painters (especially in the work of Odilon Redon and Mikhail Vrubel). Čiurlionis was no exception in this respect. Though his collection of demons is by no means abundant, there is at least one painting dedicated solely to this role.

Čiurlionis portrays a city of evil with dark, gloomy buildings and a tower reminiscent of the oft-pictured biblical tower of Babel – the symbol of evil and of man's rebellion against God. At the very centre of this scene stands the dark lord of the city himself – a demon with the outspread wings of a bat.

The painting is quite literal and static and resembles a scenographic design...

"Fantasy (The Demon)" was exhibited at these exhibitions:

"Beyond Heaven and Earth" at the Museum Belvédère in Heerenveen (Netherlands), February 24th – June 8th, 2024;
"M. K. Čiurlionis: Between Worlds" at Dulwich picture gallery, London (United Kingdom), September 21st, 2022 - March 12th, 2023
“The Wild Souls: Symbolism in the Art of the Baltic States” at the National Gallery of Art in Vilnius (Lithuania), 10th July - 27th September, 2020;
“The Wild Souls: Symbolism in the Art of the Baltic States” at the KUMU Art Museum, Tallinn (Estonia), 12th October, 2018 - 3rd February, 2019;
"The Demon of Modernity – Visionary Painters at the Dawn of the Last Century" at the Moderna Gallery in Zagreb, Croatia, 30th June - 26th July, 2015;
"Angels and Demons. Figures of Modernity" at the Palazzo Roverella in Rovigo (Italy), 14th February - 14th June, 2015.

Exhibition of Russian Artists in Paris

Exhibition of Russian Artists in Paris

Date

Related content