Literary heritage of M. K. Čiurlionis

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis; Literatūros paveldas; Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis; Literary heritage.

ENDuring the last centuries, the mankind has undergone dramatic specialization, with each human dedicating himself to more and more limited social functions. Similar processes can be also observed in the art: the artist rarely leaves a distinct trace in several different forms of art, like a Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci, for example. Stanisław Wyspiański (Stanislaus Vyspiansky) and Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis are the exception of syncretic art not only in Polish and Lithuanian cultures, but also in the whole European culture of end-19th and beginning of 20th centuries. In Lithuania and throughout the world, Čiurlionis is known as a painter and, in a smaller scale, as a composer, meanwhile almost obscure as a writer. In Lithuania, even people having a degree in philology, are often surprised to hear that Čiurlionis created over ten short literary pieces. Why did it happen? As a rule, the works and life of famous artists are thoroughly studied including the smallest details and unpublished versions. One of the main reasons why Čiurlionis-writer is forgotten is late publication of his works. A part of his creations was published in the book About Music and Art ("Apie muziką ir dailę") by Professor Vytautas Landsbergis in 1960, and several more in the magazine Pergalė in 1975, a long time after the author’s death. By that time all literary facts had already taken their proper places. In fact, it is difficult to change, introduce new facts or interpretation after the order is firmly settled. [Extract, p. 243]