Symbolism in the 19th Century

Introduction

• The 19th century experienced significant changes due to industrialization and scientific advancements.
• Symbolism emerged as a reaction to these societal changes, originating in literature and expanding to music and fine arts.

Characteristics of Symbolism

• Avant-garde movement with artists working independently across various styles and mediums.
• Expression of dreams, visions, and spirituality to escape a changing reality.
• Use of color and flat, often abstract forms.
• Emotive themes like love, fear, anguish, death, sexual awakening, and desire.
• Contrasted with romantic or academic art preferred by the art establishment.

Key Figures and Works

Odilon Redon

• Considered a forerunner of the Symbolist movement.
• Known for lithographic prints that emphasize dreams and imagination.
• Illustrated Gustave Flaubert's poem "La Tentation de St. Antoine" (The Temptation of St. Anthony).
• Moved away from naturalism using dream imagery and imaginary figures.
• Influenced later artists, including friend Paul Gauguin.

Paul Gauguin

• His painting "Vision after the Sermon" (1888) is described as the first defining Symbolist painting.
• The painting features flat forms and broad use of red, emphasizing an unreal, dreamlike quality.
• Depicts a biblical story where Jacob wrestles with an angel, seen as a vision rather than physical reality.
• The tree symbolizes the division between the real world and the mind's interior space.

Spread of Symbolism

• Extended beyond France, influencing artists like Scottish artist Frances MacDonald McNair.
• McNair’s work included experimental designs across various media, reflecting decorative traits of Art Nouveau.

Influence on Later Movements

• Symbolism influenced artists like Picasso, Dali, Mondrian, and Kandinsky.
• Paved the way for Expressionism, Surrealism, Abstraction, and more.

Contemporary Influence

• Michael Armitage, a contemporary artist, references Symbolist themes in his work.
• His 2016 painting "Nassim Annoy" draws inspiration from Gauguin's "Vision after the Sermon."
• Armitage's work exhibits flat colors and a synthetic, dreamlike quality.

Conclusion

• Symbolism was a rejection of scientific and industrial progress's impact on society.
• As society moves into a new technological era, it questions what the next artistic response will be.