MODULE 7

SYMBOLISM

It is an art movement following the Post-Impressionism, which is characterized by fascination

with the inner world of fantasy, emphasis in imagination over the copying of nature and most of all,
from the term itself; it uses symbols in presenting the art subjects. This particular movement emerged
in France and ideas shared by the artist are the rejection of the Realism. Moreover, artists in this period
believed that art should represent absolute truth using particular images or objects with symbolic,
events and conditions. The symbolic movement had its roots in Les Fleurs Du Mal (The flowers of Evil)
by Charles Baudelaire. As what Confucius said in relation to this movement, “Sign and Symbols rule the
world, not words nor laws.”

Some of the famous artists in this movement include:

a. Gustav Klimt. He is an Austrian symbolist painter who is famous of his masterpieces, “THE KISS” and
“PORTRAIT OF ADELE BLOCK BAUER”.

B. Edvard Much. He is a Norwegian painter famous of his masterpieces”THE SCREAM”, “MADONNA”,

and “VAMPIRE”.

C. Frida Kahlo De Rivera. She is a Mexican painter who is best known for her self-portraits like: “SELF-
PORTRAIT WITH THIRN NECKLACE AND HUMMINGBIRD” and “SELF-PORTRAIT DEDICATE TO LEON
TROTSKY”.

D. Gustave Moreau. He is a French symbolist painter whose main emphasis is on the biblical and
mythological figures illustrations. Some of his famous works include: “ZEUS AND SEMELE,” and
“THRACIAN GIRL CARRYING THE HEAD OF ORPHEUS ON HIS LYRE.”