What is Symbolism art? It’s more than just a 19th-century movement—it’s a turning point where artists shifted from depicting the physical world to exploring emotions, spirituality, and the subconscious.
Artists like Gustave Moreau, Odilon Redon, and Paul Gauguin moved beyond realism, using mythological figures, allegory, and dream symbolism to communicate deeper meanings. This movement rejected literal representation in favor of more personal, often mysterious, expressions.
In this article, I’ll break down how Symbolism developed, its key themes, the major figures that shaped it, and how it influenced movements like Expressionism and Surrealism.
By the end, you’ll understand how Symbolism revolutionized art by focusing on psychological depth and subjectivity, influencing not only art but literature, cinema, and modern creative practices.
You’ll gain insight into the rich symbolic landscapes, religious imagery, and emotional intensity that define this important movement.
What Is Symbolism Art
Symbolism art is a 19th-century movement that focuses on depicting emotions, dreams, and spirituality rather than physical reality.
Artists like Gustave Moreau and Odilon Redon used mythological figures, symbolic landscapes, and psychological depth to explore themes of the unconscious, moving beyond literal representation to express deeper meanings.
Historical Context of Symbolism
Symbolism emerged in the late 19th century, primarily in France and Belgium, as a response to Realism and Impressionism.
The movement rejected the idea that art should focus on direct representations of the external world. Instead, Symbolist artists aimed to explore emotional, mystical, and spiritual themes through symbolic representation.
Gustave Moreau and Odilon Redon were among the prominent figures in Symbolism. Their works didn’t focus on literal depictions but sought to convey deeper psychological and emotional meanings.
For example, Moreau often used mythological figures like Salomé to express complex themes of spirituality and desire.
The Romanticism influence on Symbolism is significant. Symbolist painters were interested in the darker aspects of human nature, often drawing from fantastical themes and dream-like imagery.
This focus on inner experience is what differentiates Symbolism from previous movements like Realism. Symbolism art characteristics emphasized imagination over reality, which aligned with the contemporary literary Decadent movement.
Jean Moréas published the Symbolist Manifesto in 1886, marking the formalization of the movement. However, the roots of Symbolism can be traced further back to Romanticism and earlier artistic expressions that sought to move beyond surface-level realism.
Paul Gauguin and Arnold Böcklin also played crucial roles in the development of Symbolism, contributing to its themes of mythology, dream symbolism, and the unconscious.
Artists associated with Les Nabis, a group of Post-Impressionist painters, also took inspiration from Symbolism, adding their own unique interpretations of religious symbols and mythological figures.
These elements, combined with nature symbolism and psychological depth in art, offered a rich framework for exploring human emotion and the subconscious mind.
By focusing on subjectivity in art, Symbolism paved the way for future movements like Surrealism and Expressionism, where artists delved even deeper into the realms of visionary art and symbolic landscapes.
Symbolism wasn’t limited to just painting; it also influenced literature, sculpture, and music during its peak, with Franz von Stuck and Félicien Rops contributing to the expansion of Symbolist ideas across different mediums.
In terms of the broader European art scene, Symbolism coincided with the rise of Art Nouveau, particularly in the use of allegory and ornamental styles that referenced nature and the spiritual world.
Key Themes and Subjects in Symbolism
Symbolism emphasized emotion, dreams, and the subconscious. Its subjects were drawn from a deep well of mythology, religion, and psychology. Artists like Gustave Moreau and Odilon Redon frequently used mythological figures to explore abstract ideas.
Paul Gauguin leaned into fantastical themes, depicting symbolic landscapes that went beyond the physical world, tapping into a more internal and visionary art perspective.
Dream symbolism was central, with many Symbolist works portraying scenes that felt disconnected from reality.
These fantastical themes mirrored the movement’s desire to reveal what lies beneath the surface—what can’t be seen but is felt. The use of mythology allowed Symbolists to address broader human concerns such as death, desire, and the unconscious.
Religion also found its way into Symbolism, with religious symbols often infused with personal and emotional meaning. Salomé, for example, became a recurring figure representing seduction, power, and danger.
Artists like Jean Delville and Franz von Stuck frequently employed allegory to convey moral or spiritual dilemmas, moving beyond literal interpretations of biblical figures or mythological figures to deeper emotional explorations.
This movement also gave space to darker themes. Death, decay, and the macabre were depicted in works like The Scream by Edvard Munch, which used psychological depth in art to reflect inner turmoil. These themes were more than just morbid fascinations—they were tools for artists to explore the anxiety of modern life.
Nature symbolism was another key aspect. While Romanticism had used nature to celebrate beauty, Symbolists like Arnold Böcklin viewed nature as a reflection of the inner psyche.
Symbolic landscapes were not just pretty pictures—they conveyed moods and emotions, often tied to the unknown or the mystical.
One consistent theme across all Symbolist art was its use of subjectivity in art. The viewer was often left to interpret the work through their own emotional lens, without clear guidance from the artist.
This was intentional, a way to reflect the complexity of human emotion and the unconscious. Symbolist painters weren’t concerned with objective truth. Their goal was to dive into psychological depth, explore visionary art, and reveal the hidden meanings that words or realistic images couldn’t express.
In terms of answering what is Symbolism art, it’s about expression beyond the obvious, where mythological figures, symbolic representation, and dream symbolism work together to communicate the complexities of the human condition, emphasizing inner reality over the external world.
Major Artists of the Symbolist Movement
Gustave Moreau was one of the central figures of the Symbolist movement. His works often featured mythological figures and themes of spirituality.
Known for intricate detail, Moreau’s paintings like The Apparition used symbolic representation to explore the tension between the divine and the human, between purity and desire. His influence reached far beyond his own work, inspiring younger artists and connecting Symbolism to broader art movements.
Another major artist, Odilon Redon, approached Symbolism through a more introspective lens. His work focused on psychological depth in art, using dreamlike imagery and personal symbols to delve into the subconscious.
Redon’s pieces often combined elements of fantastical themes with nature symbolism, creating an ethereal atmosphere that felt disconnected from reality yet deeply emotional.
Paul Gauguin, known for his use of symbolic landscapes, was less focused on the mythological and more interested in the spiritual connections between man and nature.
His time in Tahiti brought a unique twist to Symbolism, as he painted scenes imbued with meaning through the use of bright colors and religious symbols. His work also touched on dream symbolism, presenting an idealized version of nature that existed more in the mind than in the real world.
Edvard Munch is often associated with Symbolism for works like The Scream, where he explored themes of death, anxiety, and isolation.
Munch’s use of color and composition pushed the boundaries of subjectivity in art, making his paintings feel raw and emotional. His exploration of the darker aspects of human existence connected him to the movement’s broader fascination with the internal world of thoughts and feelings.
Arnold Böcklin brought a classical approach to Symbolism with works like Isle of the Dead, blending mythological figures with dramatic, symbolic landscapes.
His paintings often evoked a sense of foreboding and mystery, tying together elements of death and the supernatural with the natural world. Böcklin’s influence can be seen in later movements, particularly Surrealism, where artists would continue to explore the themes of the subconscious and the unconscious.
Other important figures include Franz von Stuck and Jean Delville, who contributed to the movement through their exploration of allegory and religious symbols.
Both artists frequently used mythological figures in their work, adding layers of meaning that went beyond the surface, reflecting the Symbolist interest in the emotional and spiritual dimensions of life.
Symbolist Techniques and Aesthetic Innovations
Symbolist artists didn’t care about traditional realism. They leaned into abstraction and symbolic representation to convey emotional and psychological depth.
The brushstrokes were often loose, creating a sense of dream-like vagueness. Odilon Redon, for example, used soft textures and muted colors to make his pieces feel otherworldly, emphasizing dream symbolism and fantastical themes over clarity.
The symbolic landscapes in works by Paul Gauguin or Arnold Böcklin broke away from realistic depictions of nature.
Instead, these landscapes were infused with nature symbolism, blending the natural world with spiritual or emotional significance. These choices weren’t about beauty but about conveying a deeper internal meaning.
Color was key. Artists used it not to replicate reality but to evoke mood. Edvard Munch, in works like The Scream, played with bright, unnatural tones to express anxiety, death, and isolation.
The colors weren’t tied to the subject’s actual appearance but to the emotion it was meant to convey.
Composition also shifted. Symbolist painters often moved away from balanced or harmonious scenes. Gustave Moreau and others packed their works with intricate details, focusing on mythological figures or allegorical symbols.
This created an almost overwhelming experience where every inch of the canvas seemed to hold meaning, drawing viewers into the depths of the artist’s psyche.
The focus on subjectivity in art became a hallmark. Artists weren’t trying to show the world as it was but rather how it felt, embracing psychological depth in art.
This allowed for the exploration of themes like the unconscious, spirituality, and the subconscious. The result was art that was often highly personal, inviting interpretation from the viewer rather than offering a clear narrative.
In many ways, Symbolism set the stage for movements like Surrealism, where the boundaries between reality and dreams would be explored even further.
Symbolism and Related Movements
Symbolism didn’t exist in isolation. It was closely tied to other movements that shaped European art. Romanticism, which came before, laid the groundwork.
The focus on emotion and the subjectivity in art that Romanticism championed became central to Symbolism.
Romanticism’s love for the mystical, the unknown, and the sublime carried over, but Symbolism took it further—digging deeper into the subconscious and psychological depth.
Then there’s Art Nouveau, which emerged alongside Symbolism, especially in places like France and Belgium.
While Art Nouveau focused more on the aesthetic—curved lines, ornamental beauty—there were significant overlaps.
The use of nature symbolism in both movements blurred the lines, and you can see elements of Symbolism in the symbolic landscapes of Art Nouveau works.
Moving forward, Expressionism would take Symbolism’s exploration of inner emotion and psychological depth in art and push it even further.
Edvard Munch, whose work is often associated with both Symbolism and Expressionism, is a prime example.
His iconic piece, The Scream, draws from the Symbolist tradition of focusing on internal turmoil but expresses it with more raw, emotional intensity.
Surrealism owes a significant debt to Symbolism, especially in its exploration of the unconscious. Odilon Redon and Gustave Moreau opened the door to dreamlike, fantastical imagery—something the Surrealists would fully embrace.
The focus on visionary art and dream symbolism found in Symbolism directly paved the way for Surrealism’s obsession with dreams and the irrational.
While what is Symbolism art may be linked to the late 19th century, its impact echoes through modern movements, particularly in how it challenged artists to move beyond mere representation and delve into the emotional, spiritual, and psychological layers of their subjects.
Symbolism’s Legacy and Cultural Impact
Symbolism didn’t just fade out when the 19th century ended. Its influence stretched far beyond its time, shaping future movements and the way we approach art, literature, and even film. It carved out a space for artists to explore subjectivity and the unconscious, concepts that continued to resonate through the 20th century.
The movement left a clear mark on Surrealism. Artists like Salvador Dalí and René Magritte took the dream symbolism and psychological depth from Symbolism and pushed it further into the irrational and fantastical.
The exploration of mythological figures and allegory in Symbolist art created a foundation for Surrealism’s dreamscapes, where reality was bent and reinterpreted through the lens of the subconscious.
Expressionism, especially in Germany, also inherited Symbolism’s focus on emotion and inner turmoil. Edvard Munch is a prime example, as his work, including The Scream, straddles both movements.
The intense emotional landscapes that Symbolism introduced evolved into the raw, often unsettling emotional portrayals found in Expressionist art and film, such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.
In literature, the Symbolist poets—like Jean Moréas and Stéphane Mallarmé—influenced writers throughout Europe, setting the stage for Modernist poetry and even psychoanalysis in culture.
Their use of religious symbols, fantastical themes, and psychological exploration reverberated in the works of writers like T.S. Eliot and James Joyce.
Cinema was another domain that drew from Symbolism. Early filmmakers borrowed the movement’s use of dream symbolism and the tension between reality and the subconscious.
This laid the groundwork for the surreal and symbolic imagery found in modern cinema, influencing everything from avant-garde films to mainstream directors who use visual allegory to explore deeper themes.
Even contemporary art owes a debt to Symbolism. Artists today continue to engage with themes of death, desire, and the unconscious, revisiting symbolic landscapes and psychological depth in new ways.
The way Symbolist painters broke from realism opened doors for later abstract and conceptual art, where representation is less important than evoking thought or feeling.
Ultimately, if someone asks what is Symbolism art, it’s clear that its legacy is not just in its visual or literary aesthetics, but in the way it pushed art to explore what lies beneath the surface, a cultural shift that resonates in the layers of modern creative expression.
FAQ on What Is Symbolism Art
What is Symbolism art?
Symbolism art is an artistic movement that began in the late 19th century, focusing on the representation of emotions, dreams, and the subconscious rather than literal depictions. Artists like Gustave Moreau and Odilon Redon used mythological figures, symbolic landscapes, and religious symbols to explore deeper psychological and spiritual meanings.
Who were the major artists of the Symbolist movement?
Key figures in the Symbolist movement include Gustave Moreau, Odilon Redon, Paul Gauguin, Edvard Munch, and Arnold Böcklin. These artists used symbolic representation and psychological depth in art to create works that focused on internal experiences, fantastical themes, and the exploration of the unconscious.
What are the key themes in Symbolism art?
Symbolism often revolves around themes like dream symbolism, death, spirituality, mythology, and the exploration of the unconscious. Artists used fantastical themes and symbolic landscapes to represent personal, emotional, and psychological experiences rather than external reality.
How does Symbolism differ from Realism?
Symbolism rejected the objective representation of the external world found in Realism. Instead, it focused on subjectivity in art and the inner world, using allegory, mythological figures, and dream symbolism to convey emotions, spiritual ideas, and abstract concepts.
How did Symbolism influence other art movements?
Symbolism had a significant influence on later movements like Expressionism and Surrealism. Artists such as Edvard Munch and the Surrealists adopted Symbolism’s focus on the unconscious, psychological depth, and visionary art, continuing its exploration of dream-like, emotional, and spiritual themes.
What techniques were used in Symbolism art?
Symbolist artists often used loose brushstrokes, muted colors, and unconventional compositions. They emphasized symbolic representation over realism, creating dream-like or symbolic landscapes. This allowed them to explore psychological depth and abstract ideas without being tied to literal or naturalistic depictions.
Why is Symbolism considered important?
Symbolism marked a shift from representing reality to exploring the unseen—emotions, dreams, and the spiritual world. It opened the door for movements like Surrealism and Expressionism, expanding the possibilities of what art could represent and how it could express complex internal experiences.
Where did Symbolism originate?
The Symbolism movement originated in France and Belgium in the late 19th century, with Gustave Moreau and Odilon Redon as leading figures. From there, it spread across Europe, influencing artists in countries like Germany and eventually inspiring international movements like Surrealism and Expressionism.
How did literature and Symbolism intersect?
Symbolism wasn’t limited to visual art; it deeply influenced literature. Jean Moréas and other Symbolist poets used religious symbols, mythology, and allegory in their works, seeking to express complex emotions and spiritual ideas. This literary movement paralleled the visual exploration of internal experiences in art.
What are some famous Symbolist artworks?
Notable works include Gustave Moreau’s The Apparition, Edvard Munch’s The Scream, and Odilon Redon’s dream-like prints. These pieces explore fantastical themes, psychological depth, and the use of symbolic landscapes to convey inner emotions, offering rich examples of the movement’s focus on subjectivity in art.
Conclusion
What is Symbolism art? It’s about the unseen. Symbolism took art beyond the physical world, diving deep into emotions, spirituality, and the subconscious.
Artists like Gustave Moreau and Odilon Redon used mythological figures and symbolic landscapes to challenge the boundaries of reality, offering a visual language for thoughts and feelings.
The movement’s emphasis on psychological depth in art influenced many future styles, like Expressionism and Surrealism, expanding what art could express.
Paul Gauguin brought dream symbolism and nature symbolism into his work, while Edvard Munch turned emotions like fear and anxiety into iconic visual forms.
Ultimately, Symbolism opened a new path for artists to explore internal experiences, leaving a lasting legacy that still resonates in modern art. Its focus on subjectivity and spiritual exploration continues to inspire artists today, making its mark on both visual and cultural landscapes.
