The image of the angel was a popular motif among symbolists. They were painted by Odilon Redon, Mikhail Vrubel, Gustave Moreau, Maurice Denis and others.

It is in the depiction of angels that Čiurlionis' free-mannered attitude to iconography becomes apparent. To him, the angel is not a creature from a specific religion, but rather a symbol of many meanings. At the same time, it is a reference to the biblical story of Cain and Abel, however, Čiurlionis does not specifically attach it to a certain tale, instead transforming it into an abstract symbol of sacrifice.

The angel in “Offering” is a mediator between heaven and earth as well as between God and man. It is responsible for making the decision to accept an offering or reject it. Standing at the very top of the stairs, it might also symbolize the highest point of human spiritual evolution.

The work of M. K. Čiurlionis caught the attention of the famous dancer Isadora Duncan. Once, long after his death, Duncan visited the artist's friend E. Morawski and was impressed by a reproduction of “Offering” hanging on the wall. Čiurlionis had painted it for his friend himself. Čiurlionis' sister, who had had the honour of seeing Duncan dancing, remembered how she came out to thank the audience for their applause and stood there on the stage with both hands stretched out and her head tilted to the side. A sight that bore no small resemblance to Čiurlionis' “Offering”.

This artwork is exhibited in M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, exhibition "From Amber to the Stars. Together with M. K. Čiurlionis: Now and Then" (March 21 - October 12, 2025).

From 2024-02-24 until 2024-06-08 this painting is exhibited in Museum Belvédère in Heerenveen, Netherlands.

All

Deluge. IV from the cycle of 5 paintings

Deluge. I from the cycle of 5 paintings.

Cliff at the Seaside

The Offering