Art Symbolism

Symbolist painting emphasizes on fantasy and imagination in their depiction of objects. The artists of the movement often uses types of metaphors and symbols to suggest a subject and favored mystical and occult themes. The movement strived to depict the symbols of ideas which were influenced by Romanticism and Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood. The movement originated in France and spread across Europe. Symbolists were opposed to the visual realism of the Impressionists and serious nature of the Industrial Age. Their aim was to portray mysterious and ambiguous interpretations of emotions and ideas by using unobvious symbols. Some artists, which included Puvis de Chavannes, Moreau, and Redon, borrowed their imagery from Symbolist writings. These works would often contain grotesque and fantastical imagery such as severed heads, monsters, and spirits. Their works would sometimes contain additional references to the Bible and ancient myths. Other Symbolists took a more traditional approach, using lines and colors to produce emotional effects. The Symbolist movement was important to the development of the Surrealism.





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