Artwork
Lotus from a Set of Initiation Cards (Tsakali)
Lotus from a Set of Initiation Cards (Tsakali) is an unspecified painting by the Russian Icon artist Unknown. It dates from 1400 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The work is a painted card featuring a stylized lotus flower rendered in a flat, symbolic manner.
About this work
Overview
The work is a painted card featuring a stylized lotus flower rendered in a flat, symbolic manner. A solid circular disc forms the centre, encircled by overlapping petals rendered in red, blue and green. The composition rests on a plain beige field edged with a thin red border, giving the piece a concise, graphic appearance.
Subject & Meaning
The lotus, a recurrent emblem in many religious traditions, serves here as a visual focus for initiation rites. Its symmetrical arrangement and vivid colours likely convey notions of purity, spiritual awakening and the cyclical nature of ritual passage, aligning with the card’s function within ceremonial contexts.
Technique & Style
Executed with a simplified, decorative approach, the painting employs flat areas of colour without modelling or shading. The petals are arranged in a regular, overlapping sequence that emphasizes symmetry rather than naturalistic detail, reflecting a symbolic visual language typical of ritual objects rather than fine‑art painting.
History & Provenance
The card belongs to a series of initiation cards used in religious ceremonies, suggesting a functional role within a specific cultic practice. It is presently part of the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it is displayed as an example of ritual art rather than a conventional easel painting.
Artist & collection
