Symbolism (movement)
Late 19th-century movement seeking absolute truths through symbols.
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Symbolism was a late 19th-century art movement of French and Belgian origin in poetry and other arts. It sought to represent absolute truths symbolically through language and metaphorical images, mainly as a reaction against naturalism and realism. The movement originated in literature with the 1857 publication of Charles Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du mal and was developed by Stéphane Mallarmé and Paul Verlaine during the 1860s and 1870s. The term 'symbolist' was popularized by critic Jean Moréas in his 1886 manifesto 'Le Symbolisme', though it had been used earlier by others, including the poet Paul Verlaine.
Lore & Background
Symbolism was largely a reaction against naturalism and realism, anti-idealistic styles that attempted to represent reality in its gritty particularity. In contrast, symbolism favored spirituality, imagination, and dreams. Some writers, such as Joris-Karl Huysmans, began as naturalists before becoming symbolists, reflecting an increasing interest in religion and spirituality. The movement also had a complex relationship with Parnassianism, retaining its love of word play and concern for musical qualities while rejecting its clarity and objectivity.
Reader's Guide
Symbolism's significance lies in its shift from direct representation to evocation through symbolic imagery, influencing later literary and artistic movements. The Symbolist Manifesto, published by Jean Moréas in 1886, declared hostility to plain meanings and matter-of-fact description, aiming instead to clothe the Ideal in perceptible form. Mallarmé defined symbolism as the perfect use of mystery to evoke an object gradually, revealing a state of the soul.
The movement spread to painting across the Western world in a wide variety of styles. Its techniques, including free verse and synesthesia, influenced poets such as T. S. Eliot, Jules Laforgue, Paul Valéry, and Arthur Rimbaud. The pursuit of 'art for art's sake' was seen as a sacred function, with beauty standing for a higher meaning beyond itself, aligning with Platonic ideals.
Did You Know?
- Charles Baudelaire admired and translated Edgar Allan Poe, whose works were a significant influence on symbolism.
- Symbolist poets sought to identify and confound separate senses of scent, sound, and color, a practice called synesthesia.
- The Salon de la Rose + Croix, established by Joséphin Péladan in 1892, hosted presentations of avant-garde art, writing, and music, but it was not exclusively for symbolists and had a strong occult/religious orientation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Symbolism movement?
Symbolism was a late 19th-century artistic and literary current born in France and Belgium that aimed to express absolute truths through metaphor, suggestion, and symbolic imagery rather than literal description. It touched poetry, painting, music, and broader literature.
Who are the key figures behind Symbolism?
The movement's intellectual roots go back to Charles Baudelaire's 1857 volume Les Fleurs du mal, and it was further developed by poets Stéphane Mallarmé and Paul Verlaine during the 1860s and 1870s. Critic Jean Moréas later gave the group its name and theoretical framework in his 1886 manifesto.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Symbolism (movement) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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