Allegro (Sonata of the Stars) 1908

Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis made this painting, Allegro (Sonata of the Stars), at the beginning of the 20th century, and the musical title gives you a clue. Just look at the way Ciurlionis used thin paint to build up layers of color. It’s like he's composing a symphony, not just painting a picture. The textures in this piece are amazing: wispy lines, soft gradients, and these tiny little stars scattered around. The way the colors blend and fade into each other makes the painting feel like it’s breathing, almost alive. I keep coming back to that central triangular form, that mountain, or maybe it’s a musical staff. It’s a solid, grounded shape. But the way it dissolves into the surrounding space suggests endless possibility. It feels like a conversation with artists like Hilma af Klint, who were also exploring these abstract, spiritual realms. And that’s what art is all about, isn’t it? Keeping the conversation going.