The small exhibition presents a collection of symbolist drawings and prints – its first part shows the artworks by remarkable French artists dating from the 1880s and 1890s. Compositional drawings of wall paintings by Pierre-Cécil Puvis de Chavannes (1824–1898) heralded the transition to symbolism. They are far more expressive and dynamic than the linear forms in his finished paintings. We also present lithographs by the dream magician Bertrand-Jean (Odilon) Redon (1840–1916). They are thematically complemented by prints by Paul Gauguin (1848–1903), who was influenced by Puvis’ immediacy, emotivity and simplified drawing.
Symbolism developed in the early 1880s in French poetry and quickly spread to other artistic genres throughout Europe. It became a link connecting fine arts and philosophy, science and literature. The fine arts did not have a unified style at the time, but a spiritual renaissance was under way reflecting certain emotions or thoughts. Symbolism developed simultaneously as a reaction to impressionism and realism. The new generation of artists aimed to capture mental states and moods through symbols translated into colours, lines and compositions in a synthesis of form and feeling, reality and subjective experience. The symbolists found inspiration in literature and contemporary poetry, as well as fantastic and dream visions, mystical experiences, occultism, exoticism and eroticism. Their interests spanned mythology, classical Antiquity and the present.
