Symbolism

Symbolism is an artistic and literary movement that emerged in the late 19th century, characterized by the quest to represent universal truths through symbols and metaphors, rather than direct and realistic descriptions. This movement arose as a reaction against the realism and the naturalism , influenced by the romanticism and the poetry of Charles Baudelaire, who advocated for a spiritual reality beyond the physical world.

Symbolism had a significant impact on several later artistic movements, such as modernism and the surrealism. These movements embraced the idea that art should explore the unconscious and the irrational, finding in symbolism a rich source of inspiration for their own explorations. Among the most representative artists of symbolism are Gustave Moreau, Odilon Redon, and Arnold Böcklin. Moreau is known for his complex and enigmatic compositions, while Redon stood out for his dreamlike and fantastic works, and Böcklin is remembered for his mystical and allegorical landscapes.

A distinctive feature of symbolism is its use of colors and shapes to evoke emotional and spiritual states. Symbolist artists believed that art had the power to transcend everyday reality and offer a deeper vision of human existence. This idea extended to the expressionism , which also sought to explore internal emotions and subjectivity, albeit with a more dramatic and intense aesthetic.