Ștefan Luchian - Eminescu (Zadarnic după umbra ta dulce), Ștefan Luchian, 1889

Homage to the recently deceased romanian poet mihai eminescu: eminescu's portrait to the left; fragment of din valurile vremii. ("waves of time") poem, in luchian's handwriting, to the right; at the top is luchian's rendition of eminescu's signature. The history of this work is traced in jianu & comarnescu, pages 20 to 22. Luchian was studying at munich when news of eminescu's death reached him. The drawing was mailed to eminescu's patron and editor, titu maiorescu, probably in hopes that it would be reproduced by maiorescu's journal convorbiri literare. The verse, which (jianu & comarnescu suggest) had special significance for luchian, reads: zadarnic după umbra ta dulce le întind din valurile vremii nu pot să te cuprind. These have been rendered as: in vain with arms outstretching my soul your shadow craves, dear one, i cannot reach you amidst time's rolling waves. Date: 1889.