Symbolism

Symbolism, an art movement that emerged in the late 19th century, primarily in France and Belgium, sought to express the ineffable and the metaphysical through visual art. Characterized by its emphasis on emotion, imagination, and spirituality, Symbolism reacted against the materialism and rationalism of the industrial age. Artists within this movement employed a rich visual language of symbols and allegories to convey themes of dreams, mysticism, and the human psyche. Key figures such as Gustave Moreau, Odilon Redon, and Pierre Puvis de Chavannes utilized a palette of muted colors and ethereal forms to evoke a sense of otherworldliness. Symbolism significantly influenced subsequent movements, including Surrealism and Expressionism, by prioritizing inner experience and subjective interpretation over realistic representation.