Composer-painter, Čiurlionis and synthesis of the arts in "Fin-de-Siècle" Europe: from the viewpoint of Japonisme

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis; Kompozitoriai; Tapytojai; Japonizmas; Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis; Composers; Painters; Japonisme.

ENThe year 2011 marks the commemoration of the centenary anniversary of the death of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875–1911) who was an outstanding Lithuanian, equally talented as a composer and a painter. In his time the idea of synthesis of the arts swept through the European artistic world, and even became Zeitgeist. Charles Baudelaire’s (1821–1867) aesthetics of correspondences fascinated many artists with inner resonances of various senses. Richard Wagner’s (1813–1883) idea of Gesamtkunstwerk was showing the possibilities of collaboration of cross-genre arts. It was also the period that European arts were facing a big turning point and artists were eager to assimilate far-off foreign cultures in order to break down the wall of conservative traditionalism. The trend of Japonisme which dominated all of Europe from the second half of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century was the most distinctive feature. Wealthy bourgeoisie had started collecting Japanese handiworks such as ceramics, fans, folding screens (byobu), robes (kimono), and especially, colourful woodblock prints (ukiyo-e). Some artists adopted in their own works not only Japanese motives but also unusual ways of representation. Therefore in this paper, the influences of European synthesis of the arts in Čiurlionis’ works will be considered by comparison with some contemporary artists and several examples of echoes of Japonisme in his paintings will be shown. [Extract, p. 370]