Temple of Khonsu in Karnak. From the journey to Egypt

Temple of Khonsu in Karnak shows one of the subsidiary temples within the vast Karnak complex — the temple dedicated to Khonsu, god of the moon, which dates to the reign of Ramesses III in the twelfth century BCE. Karnak is the largest ancient religious complex in the world, and Ciągliński painted multiple structures within its precincts during his 1903 visit. Each temple offered slightly different architectural qualities of column, pylon, and hypostyle hall, and Ciągliński's series creates a composite visual account of the complex.

The temple structure is rendered with the characteristic warm stone palette, columns and pylons simplified to their essential volumes in strong Egyptian light. Deep shadows articulate the architectural forms. Paint is applied with confident, broad strokes suited to the monumental scale.