Two paintings of the buried dismemberment of a victim: one theatrical narrative, the other a serene reverie of anti-theatrical non-narrative. And an oriental witch.
symbolism
He took the Salon of 1864 by storm, but was barely noticed with 2 more paintings the following year. Why?
Three major paintings, each very ambitious, but abandoned, reworked, and abandoned again, give insight into his progress in changing history painting.
Moreau’s extraordinary paintings have been described as Symbolist, Decadent, even Surrealist. They are notoriously difficult to read – here is some help.
Classified a Symbolist, his style was uniquely visionary. Here are some of the masterpieces of Symbolism, which still inspire today.
His oils and pastels were rich in colour, full of flowers and light, and radical visions even by today’s standards.
Le Chevalier aux Fleurs (Musée d’Orsay) is not just frivolous chivalry and a bevy of Playboy bunnies. There is much more than that.
Unconventional treatments of popular stories, spiritual pain during the First World War, a touch of Blake, and woman murdering woman. Powerful paintings.
A brilliant woman painter, spiritualist, pacifist, and feminist, this tells of her remarkable life, art, and narrative.
A major Symbolist painter, his favourite themes included death, Medusa, angels, and the book of Tobit.
The Eclectic Light Company 