Deluge (IX) 1904

Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis conjures a world submerged in symbolic weight in his painting, 'Deluge (IX)'. We are presented with a formidable, all-seeing eye dominating the upper part of the composition, a symbol resonating across cultures as a representation of divine omniscience. This motif harkens back to ancient Egyptian art, where the Eye of Horus symbolized protection and royal power. Here, though, it looms above cascading structures, perhaps hinting at the biblical flood, a motif of cleansing and destruction found in numerous mythologies. The deluge, a narrative of divine punishment, is a recurring theme reflecting humanity’s anxieties about moral corruption. Consider how such symbolic language touches a nerve deep within our collective psyche, stirring primordial fears and the hope for renewal. This is not merely an image of a flood, but a profound statement about judgment, memory, and the cyclical nature of history.