Blavatsky and the top 20 Theosophical Painters

1- George Frederic Watts (1817–1904)  British painter and sculptor associated with the Symbolist movement. Watts became famous in his lifetime for his allegorical works, such as Hope and Love and Life. 

https://www.tate.org.uk/tate-etc/issue-51-spring-2021/cosmic-visionary 

 

2- Odilon Redon (1840 –  1916)  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6XXTE2Jd98 https://brooklynrail.org/2005/11/artseen/beyond-the-visible-the-art-of-odilon-red/

  

3-  José Villegas ( 1844 – 1921) 

 

4- Paul Gauguin ( 1848 –  1903) 

 

5- John Augustus Knapp ( 1853 – 1938)  

6- Reginald W. Machell (1854-1927)

https://bitterwinter.org/reginald-w-machell-theosophical-artist-1-surviving-the-2025-los-angeles-fire/

7- Hermann Schmiechen (22 July 1855 – c. 1923 or 1925)  

8- Mikhail Vrubel  (1856 – 1910)   

9- Alphonse Osbert (1857 – 1939)  

 

10- Fernand Khnopff  (1858 – 1921) 

 

11- Jan Toorop (1858 – 1928) 

12-  Alphonse Mucha (1860 – 1939) 

https://corymbus.co.uk/2020/01/27/alphonse-mucha-art-music-and-spirituality/ 

13- Melchior Lechter (1865 – 1937) was a German painter, graphic artist, and book designer. 

14-Wassily Kandinsky (1866 – 1944)  

15- Jean Delville (1867 – 1953)  Belgian symbolist painter, author, poet, polemicist, teacher, & Theosophist, leading exponent of Belgian Idealist movement in art during 1890s 

https://bitterwinter.org/jean-delville-and-theosophy-2-the-krishamurti-crisis/

 

16- George William Russell (1867 – 1935) 

 

17- Theodora Walter (1869  –  1959) Theodora Walter (b.1869 d.1959), daughter of a Trinidadian mother and grand-daughter of the English watercolourist, Theodore Walter (b.1832 d.1914), was a skilled botanical painter. She produced several studies of the Trinidadian landscape, of which Nudes at Macqueripe Bay is possibly the best known. Walter joined the Theosophical Society and developed a close friendship with Rudolph Steiner. Under the influence of the Theosophists, Walter developed a highly original style of painting which can be described as an early branch of Expressionism, produced in an attempt to depict their spiritual values. 

 

18- Maurice Denis  (1870 – 1943)  

 

19- František Kupka ( 1871 – 1957)   

 

20- Emily Carr ( 1871 – 1945)  

 

21- Piet Mondrian (1872 – 1944) 

22- Nicholas Roerich (1874 –  1947)

23- John R Neill ( 1877 –  1943)

24- Edmund Dulac (1882 –  1953)

https://theosophyart.org/2022/09/08/edmund-dulacs-influences-of-theosophy/ 

25-Lawren Harris ( 1885 – 1970) 

26- Diego Rivera (1886 –  1957) 

https://bitterwinter.org/diego-rivera-and-esotericism-a-forgotten-relationship/  

27- Marc Chagal (1887 – 1985)

28- Georgia O'Keeffe (1887 – 1986)

29- Frida Kahlo  (1907 – 1954)  

30- Jackson Pollock (1912 – 1956)

31 Adolfo Best Maugard

32 Emil Bisttram 

33 Agnes Pelton 

maybe

b Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1833–1898) English painter and designer associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's style and subject matter. Burne-Jones worked with William Morris as a founding partner in Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co in the design of decorative arts

https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/british-pre-raphaelites-and-the-question-of-reincarnation?highlight=WyJyZWluY2FybmF0aW9uIl0=

https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/1980/october/theosophy/

c  John William Waterhouse  (1849 – 1917)  

https://victorianweb.org/painting/jww/occult.html

e  Gaetano Previati ( 1852 –  1920) 

f Luigi Russolo ( 1885 – 1947)   

José Clemente Orozco    

Arthur Lismer (1885–1969). 

https://www.gallery.ca/collection/artist/jock-macdonald

https://theosophyart.org/

https://www.theartstory.org/definition/theosophy-and-art/

https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/theosophy-and-art/ 

Blavatsky, Theosophy and the Tenzing film, Edmund Hillary Tenzing Norgay Mount Everest apple tv biopic

Tenzing is a 2026 biographical film directed by Jennifer Peedom and written by Luke Davies. An international co-production, the film stars Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay, Tom Hiddleston as Edmund Hillary, and Willem Dafoe as John Hunt. It is based on Nepalese-Indian Sherpa Norgay's 1953 ascent of Mount Everest with New Zealand climber Hillary.

The film had its world premiere at the 53rd Telluride Film Festival on September 4, 2026, followed by theatrical release in the United States and Australia on October 9, 2026, ahead of release on Apple TV worldwide on October 16. It has received critical acclaim from critics, and won the 49th Mill Valley Film Festival overall audience award on October 12, 2026.

Before becoming involved with the Theosophical Society, Edmund Hillary's quest for personal philosophy and physical training led him through related holistic and esoteric circles:In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Hillary spent a considerable amount of time hiking with the Radiant Living Tramping Club, an adjunct of the School of Radiant Living, a movement founded in New Zealand that shared many intersections with the spiritual, physical, and psychological philosophies found in late 19th and early 20th-century esoteric groups  

 

He subsequently became an official member of the New Zealand Theosophical Society during the 1940s. It was quite common for intellectuals and truth-seekers in New Zealand during this period to explore these alternative, Eastern-influenced philosophies. While Hillary drifted away from formal membership in the Theosophical Society as his high-profile mountaineering and humanitarian career took off,  it's conceivable that his humanitarian values were inspired by the spiritual and philosophical undercurrents of his youth . He ultimately described his world-view as a secular, agnostic freethinker, but retained a sense of compassion and tolerance. This was most evident in his  lifelong respect and philanthropic work for the Sherpa people, whose culture and religious beliefs he respected.

 

Reviews

 

Tenzing review – reconstruction of first summit of Everest puts Sherpa at the centre of the story 

Peter Bradshaw  9 Oct 2026

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/oct/09/tenzing-review-genden-phuntsok-tom-hiddleston-apple-willem-dafoe-v 

 

Review Tenzing | Tom Hiddleston and Genden Phuntsok's Epic Mostly Gets It Right

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQiNnvq2YzM 

   

Interviews 

 

Cast of 'Tenzing' interview Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe, Genden Phuntsok, Thinley Lhamo, Caitriona Balfe, director Jennifer Peedom 8m

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os1X879LivM 

 

Genden Phuntsok on Becoming Tenzing Norgay in TENZING | JENNIFER PEEDOM & GENDEN PHUNTSOK | TIFF

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n326eVwb9Zo 

 

Exclusive interview of Janet R. Nepales with Willem Dafoe of TENZING

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPUyFnH8DGc 

TENZING: Tom Hiddleston & Genden Phuntsok Climbed Real Mountains!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssLU_UfcVq8

 

"Tenzing" Thinley Lhamo interview

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bEwHkQcumc

 

Tenzing Norgay: The Man Behind the Legend — As Told by His Eldest Son | Norbu Tenzing Oct 2, 2026 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg6nylNSrBE 

 

Biography 

 

Review: Shadow Worlds: A History of the Occult and Esoteric in New Zealand

Graham Reid

https://www.ketebooks.co.nz/articles/shadow-worlds-a-history-of-the-occult-and-esoteric-in-new-zealand-wood 

Biography: Hillary, Edmund Percival

https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/6h1/hillary-edmund-percival 

 

Edmund Hillary Mountaineer, Explorer 

https://openlysecular.org/freethinker/edmund-hillary/ 

 

Sir Edmund Hillary effectively debunked the famous Asian "Bigfoot" (Yeti) relic during his 1960–1961 Silver Hut scientific expedition to the Himalayas 

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/02/sir-edmund-hillary-everest-explorer-nepal-yeti-expedition/

 

Behind The First Summit of The World's Tallest Mountain (Full Episode) | Lost on Everest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCr4Pg9mEA4 

 

Tenzing streaming for free

Blavatsky and Theosophical Painters and Artists Bitter Winter Massimo Introvigne 2

See Part 1 See also Enchanted Modernities

also  Theosophical Library Center and Press, Altadena, CA Eaton Fire  

 

Reginald W. Machell, Theosophical Artist 

May 31, 2025 

1. Surviving the 2025 Los Angeles Fire 

2. Machell in Lomaland 

3. “The Path” and Beyond

https://bitterwinter.org/reginald-w-machell-theosophical-artist-3-the-path-and-beyond/ 

 

Jean Delville & Theosophy (1867 – 1953) 

Apr 20, 2026 

Belgian symbolist painter, author, poet, polemicist, teacher, & Theosophist, leading exponent of Belgian Idealist movement in art during 1890s 

1. Brussels’ Esoteric Milieu 

2. The Krishamurti Crisis 

https://bitterwinter.org/jean-delville-and-theosophy-2-the-krishamurti-crisis/ 

 

Lawren Harris, Theosophical Painter

Aug 2, 2025  

Canada's most expensive artist at auction, iconic Group of Seven member - most extensive text on his Theosophical involvement? 

1. Discovering 

2. Spokesperson 

3. Transcendental Painting Gr 

4. Writings on Theos Art 

5. How to Be  

https://bitterwinter.org/lawren-harris-theosophical-painter-5-how-to-be-a-theosophist-artist/

 

Theosophy and the Visual Arts

Feb 5, 2026  

1. Early Theosophical Didactic Art

https://bitterwinter.org/theosophy-and-the-visual-arts-1-early-theosophical-didactic-art/

2. Theosophy and Symbolism

https://bitterwinter.org/theosophy-and-the-visual-arts-2-theosophy-and-symbolism/ 

3. Theosophy and Abstract Art

https://bitterwinter.org/theosophy-and-the-visual-arts-3-theosophy-and-abstract-art/

 

Theosophy, “Thought-Forms,” and the Arts 

Jul 1, 2026 

1. Discovering the Esoteric Roots of Abstraction

2. Artists Who Saw the Invisible

3. Kandinsky and Theosophy in Munich

4. From Ringbom’s Legacy to Today’s Scholarship

https://bitterwinter.org/theosophy-thought-forms-and-the-arts-4-from-ringboms-legacy-to-todays-scholarship/

 

Around Giacomo Balla: Italian Futurists and Theosophy

Aug 16, 2025  

1. Early Theosophy in Italy and the Arts

2. Futurism and the Theosophical Society

3. Balla: The Early Years

4. Balla’s Encounter with Theosophy

5. The Mature Balla and Theosophy

https://bitterwinter.org/around-giacomo-balla-italian-futurists-and-theosophy-5-the-mature-balla-and-theosophy/

 

Salarrué: A Theosophical Artist in El Salvador

Aug 15, 2026 

https://bitterwinter.org/salarrue-a-theosophical-artist-in-el-salvador/

 

José Villegas and the Theosophical Decalogue Paintings 

Aug 8, 2026  

https://bitterwinter.org/jose-villegas-and-the-theosophical-decalogue-paintings/

 

Theodora Walter and the Theosophical Roots of Trinidadian Art

Jul 11, 2026  

https://bitterwinter.org/theodora-walter-and-the-theosophical-roots-of-trinidadian-art/

 

Grant Wallace: Psychic Art, Theosophy, and Spiritualism

Dec 13, 2025 

https://bitterwinter.org/grant-wallace-psychic-art-theosophy-and-spiritualism/

 

Walking Toward the Hereafter: Rediscovering Maurice Chabas, Painter of the Invisible

Feb 28, 2026 

https://bitterwinter.org/walking-toward-the-hereafter-rediscovering-maurice-chabas-painter-of-the-invisible/ 

 

A Rose Is a Rose Is a Rose: Hilma af Klint, Flowers, and Theosophy at the MoMA

Aug 9, 2025 

https://bitterwinter.org/a-rose-is-a-rose-is-a-rose-hilma-af-klint-flowers-and-theosophy-at-the-moma/ 

Blavatsky, Theosophy & Jack Kirby, Part 2 (1960-1985)

See Part 1 

1960s   

It is somewhat strange that the Morning of the Magicians came out 1960, with an English translation in 1963 (US release in 1968), and seems to echo the space age feel of the new Marvel comics supeheroes. Is it because of the common pulp fiction roots? Or is it just part of the general zeitgeist? The very first superhero Marvel introduced in the  1960s was Kirby's magician hero, who goes on a mystical quest to Tibet, Dr. Droom (a kind of fore-runner to Doctor Strange). Marvel Comics' rise from a small outfit publishing a handful of mystery anthologies operating out of a cramped office to a major pop culture franchise capturing the imagination of the baby-boomer generation was predicated on many Jack Kirby creations, or concepts of his developed by others in the 1960s.

 

Some Theosophical elements that can be noticed with the Marvel Comics super heroes can be found with: the Fantastic Four, there is a character called the Watcher, which is a term used in Blavatsky's Secret Doctrine. With Thor, Norse mythology was a topic Blavatsky commented on. The Hulk has echoes of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, a story that Blavatsky appreciated. With the X-Men, the notion of mutants echo a kind of transhumanism concept that was influenced by Theosophical notions of spiritual evolution.  For Magneto, one can point to a real-life model: Anton Mesmer; Theosophy closely correlates magnetism with magic.  Dr. Doom's origin story features elements of the occult and magic, as well as science.

 

1970s 

Kirby began the decade by launching his ambitious magnum opus at DC Comic, known as the Fourth Wold Saga comprised of three titles: The New Gods, The Forever People and Mister Miracle. The series has been noticed to have influenced Star Wars. The Fourth World can be related to the fourth globe in Theosophy, which corresponds to the planet Earth in an sevenfold evolutionary process.  The cancellation of the those titles lead to a very fractured, albeit remarkably creative, period. Here Kirby's vision more consistently emerges, characterized by a crude, primal, bluntess which co-exists with remarkably sophisticated, grandiose concepts, often with a kind of Biblical/mythical cataclysmic eschatology, (which can be considered as a kind of distorted form of the more esoteric, cyclical world view). 

 

Unfortunately, what would follow for most of his 1970s creations is a tension between personal artistic vision and commercial considerations, hence he was likely discouraged from developing his ideas in the the way he wanted, and most of his regular periodical creations' potential were not able to be fully developed (insofar  as the nature of the monthly pamphlet story is to remain perpetually unresolved, as Umberto Eco would say). Posterity tends to indicate that his ideas were often prescient and ahead of the curve. For example, one can point to the gradual lionization of his Fourth World mythos to canonical status. Kirby launched several new titles, of which two, Kamandi and the Demon, were moderately successful. One can notice various Theosophical themes. For The Demon, an Indian occultist, Randu Singh is part of Jason Blood's team of esoteric ghost busters. With Kamandi, a post-apocalyptic series similar to the Planet of the Apes, he introduces ancient aliens concepts in isssue #30. 

 

OMAC, has cyber punk themes with satellite technology akin to the Theosophical notion of seven rays. Sandman, in this new version, the dream aspect is fully embraced with a multi-modal ontology of alternate dimensions similar to Theosophical astral planes and spiritual dimensions. Manhunter, features an ancient secret society of crime fighters with special powers. Kobra features a secret tradition of systemic reincarnation concepts by snake people, loosely resembling eastern Nagas, which has Theosophical commentary.  Atlas, features a world similar to Robert E. Howard's King Kull, which has Theosophical influences. Spirit World was a brief attempt by Kirby to introduce a magazine dealing with various occult and mystical themes.

 

On his return to Marvel comics in 1976, Kirby continued to mine the grandiose, epic ancient aliens, mythical, magical science-fiction vein. The  Black Panther has similarities with Indiana Jones, H. Rider Haggard (who received positive notice from Blavatsky), and Talbot Mundy. The Eternals feature ancient aliens concepts with a secret society of ancient adepts with mystical powers.  Moon Boy & Devil Dinosaur, features alternative prehistorical notions related to Theosophy-inspired ancient aliens theories. Moreover, Kirby adapted the classic mystical ancient aliens film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and a spin-off series. In a Silver Surfer graphic novel, he re-visits the classic Fantastic Four Galactus trilogy, making it an even more explicitly gnostic fable. Blavatsky was a pioneer in the modern revival of gnosticism. 

1980s-90s 

Working with a creator-owned publisher, Captain Victory was more straightforward science-fiction in the vein of Star Trek, but he tied it in with the New Gods in the final issues (#'s 11-13). Silver Star, based on an unused 1970s screenplay, features transhumanism concepts in an apocalyptic tale with gnostic elements. His final major mainstream work marked a return to the Fourth World mythos with a pair of stories titled Super Powers. Just before his passing in 1994, he presented a final project, produced by others, for Topps Comics: Secret City Saga, an appropriately ambitious, grandiose, epic transhuman secret history magical, mythical project, which features notions of cyclical history, similar to Theosophical ideas. Every fifteen millennia, the humanity is devastated, due to the ravages of “The Darkstorm,” Current humanity are know as the Tenth Men, the Ninth Men being earlier super-powered beings still alive. The greatest military heroes and finest scientific minds are sequestered in a secret city built far beneath what is now Chicago, to wait for the next inevitable collapse and try to save remnants of humanity.