Dark Star (1925)
by Vasily Alexandrovich Kotarbinsky
Polish, 1848-1921

Vasily Alexandrovich Kotarbinsky was a Polish symbolist painter known for his historical and fantastical subjects. Kotarbinsky’s works often evoke a sense of mysticism and are rich in symbolic meaning. His paintings typically feature elements of mythology, religion, and history, rendered with a romantic and often melancholic tone.

“Dark Star” is a striking and symbolic black and white ink drawing depicting a multi-winged angel, possibly a seraphim, one of the most powerful angels in Christian iconography and associated with purity, light, and closeness with God. 

Here, however, the angel is depicted in black attire, along with an intense gaze and a black star hovering above. This could suggest a complex interplay between light and darkness, purity and mystery. The rock against which she leans may represent stability or the enduring nature of the divine, while the fog or smoke at knee height adds an element of the ethereal or the transient. It speaks to the strength and enigmatic qualities of the angelic figure, perhaps hinting at the dual nature of existence, where the celestial and the earthly meet.

Matte Poster
• Printed with Dye/Pigment Reactive Ink on Archival Matte Paper
• Shipped in Heavy Duty Poster Tube
• Heavy weight (210 gsm), thick base, and an instant-dry coating that resists fingerprints and smudging