Location
WC1B 3DG
Dates
This exhibition CLOSED on Thu, 18th Jul 2019
This exhibition has finished.
Cost: Free of Charge
Description
Symbolism began as a literary movement in France in the 1880s. It rejected naturalism, preferring to depict the world through suggested ideas, or ‘symbols’. In 1886 the manifesto of the movement appeared in the newspaper Le Figaro, written by the poet Jean Moréas. In it he singled out fellow poets Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine and Stéphane Mallarmé for their subjective use of the idea over straightforward, realistic description.
From the 1850s onwards, artists such as Rodolphe Bresdin and Gustave Moreau used symbolism in their prints and paintings of mysterious, dream-like subjects. They had great influence on artists drawn to the Symbolist movement, who began to seek subjects from their imagination and emotional life
The Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, whose prints can be seen in our latest special exhibition Edvard Munch: love and angst was also drawn to Symbolism and would have been familiar with many of the artists on show in the display such as Paul Gauguin, Maurice Denis, Max Klinger and Odilon Redon.
Like Munch, these artists made prints as part of their artistic practice and contributed to the plethora of illustrated journals and magazines that began to appear in the latter part of the 19th century, enabling their work to reach a wider audience.
From the languid morphine addicts depicted by Albert Besnard to the disturbing smiling spider in the lithograph by Odilon Redon, all of the prints on display come from the British Museum’s rich collection of graphic work.
Contact and Booking Details
More information at this website.
No need to book tickets - just turn up on the day.
Disclaimer
The information and prices in this listing are presumed to be correct at the time of publishing, but please always check with the venue before making a special trip.
All images are supplied by the exhibition organiser.
This exhibition has finished.
This event runs over several days/weeks. Dates include: