The Symbolist movement in art was a reaction against the materialism and realism of the art of the 19th century. The Symbolists believed that art should express ideas and emotions rather than physical reality.
The Symbolist movement began in France in the late 1800s. The most important Symbolist painters were Paul Gauguin, Odilon Redon, and Gustave Moreau. Gauguin was influenced by the art of Japan and Polynesia, and he used bold colors and simplified forms to express his ideas. Redon’s work was often dark and mysterious, and he often used symbols from nature to express his ideas. Moreau’s work was highly detailed and often featured mythological subjects.
The Symbolists were also influenced by the work of the Pre-Raphaelites, a British art movement that began in the mid-19th century. The Pre-Raphaelites were interested in medieval art, and their work often featured religious or literary subjects.
The Symbolist movement had a major impact on the development of modern art, and many of the ideas of the Symbolists are still important in the art world today.
