Symbolism
The image hints at the invisible and allows for several readings.
Key ideas
Symbolists turned to myth, dreams, religious experience and the inner world. Unlike an unambiguous emblem, a symbol often retains semantic openness. Color, line and repetition of motif can create associations without a direct narrative.
Looking deeper
Symbolism has manifested itself in different countries and artistic languages. There is no need to create a universal dictionary where each color always has the same meaning. Check the interpretation based on period texts, title, author's statements and composition.
Odilon Redon; Gustave Moreau; Mikhail Vrubel.
Find the work in the museum's official catalog and start with a description of the visible details.Offer two possible readings of the motif and find details to support each.
External educational material or museum catalogue. The above review is not a literal translation of the source.