Symbolism

象徴主義 / 1886–1910 / Style / Fin de Siècle Art

An international movement that sought to visualise the inner life through forms and colours suggesting dream, myth and idea, rather than describing the outer world. Blurred contours, closed eyes, ornamentalised plants and emblems are placed as presences whose meaning is never spelled out. It created the vocabulary of fin-de-siècle posters and book decoration.

Symbolism — Gustave Moreau, The Apparition, c. 1876 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain — Gustave Moreau, The Apparition, c. 1876 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

Symbolism — Fernand Khnopff, The Caresses, 1896 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain — Fernand Khnopff, The Caresses, 1896 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

Symbolism — Odilon Redon, Closed Eyes, 1890 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain — Odilon Redon, Closed Eyes, 1890 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

At a glance

Visual cues

Subjects of dream and myth
Contours that dissolve into vagueness
Ornamentalised plants and emblems
A deep, muted colour range

Best used for

Book covers and album art that trade in mood and suggestion rather than statement
Fragrance, wine or literary branding wrapped in myth and reverie

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Dictionary entry

Type: Elongated ornamental serifs with vegetal terminals, tangled to just short of illegibility
Composition: A centred iconic figure veiled in ornament, closed by a border of stylised plants
Material: Deep muted purples and greens with gold and silver, smoky gradients dissolving contour
Caution: Piling up suggestion until nothing announces itself leaves an image of mood alone, so measure the distance between ornament and meaning and leave the viewer a way to the message.
Further study: The exchange with literary Symbolism / Fin-de-siècle book decoration / How to keep a distance between ornament and meaning

Related entries

Art Nouveau (アール・ヌーヴォー)Shared effects: Luxury / Intimacy.Compare Symbolism and Art Nouveau
Les Nabis (ナビ派)Same Fin de Siècle Art lineage.Compare Symbolism and Les Nabis

Cite this entry

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Link: https://indexstyle.org/styles/symbolism
Markdown: [Symbolism — IndexStyle](https://indexstyle.org/styles/symbolism)
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