SYMBOLISM

Symbolism | Art Movement

• Symbolism flourished as an art movement between 1885 and 1910.

• Emerging in France, Symbolist art rejected both Realism and Impressionism and served to extend the Romantic tradition of mysticism and intense emotion.

• Through the effective use of line, color and contour, the Symbolists were driven by a desire to create evocative images rather than works that were directly descriptive.

• The symbolist painters mined mythology and dream imagery for a visual language of the soul.

• Symbolism influenced Expressionism, Art Nouveau, and Surrealism

THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH

George Inness

ORPHEUSGustave Moreau, 1865

SPIRIT OF THE FORESTOdilon Redon, 1880

SAINT JOHNOdilon Redon, 1892

THE KISSGustav Klimt, 1907-08

THE CARESSFernand Khnopff, 1896

THE BUDDHAOdilon Redon, 1904

THE CRYING SPIDEROdilon Redon, 1881

THE SCREAMEdvard Munch, 1893

HOPEGeorge Frederic Watts, 1885

THE WOUNDED ANGELHugo Simberg, 1903

SELF PORTRAITJan Toorop, 1927

DEMON SEATED IN THE GARDENMikhail Vrubel, 1890

LAST ANGELNicolas Roerich, 1912

VISION OF YOUTH BARTHOLOMEWMikhail Nesterov, 1889-90

USELESS SCIENCERemedios Varo, 1955