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Symbolism in the history of fine art
For the first time, symbolism declared itself in the fine arts of ancient peoples. His artistic language was intuitively understandable to a wide range of viewers, even without special knowledge in the field of philosophy and art history. Therefore, with the help of symbols, knowledge about the most important things in the life of society and the world order was often conveyed.
The evolution of symbolism
The first works of fine art using the language of symbols appeared in the 3rd millennium BC. e. in ancient Egypt. They decorated the walls of temples, tombs and palaces, describing in detail the way of social life and the posthumous journey of the soul through the realm of the dead. Later, the language of symbolism was actively used in the visual arts of ancient Babylonia, China, India, Greece and other centers of civilization. On the territory of Europe, Christianity had a great influence on the development of tradition. His sermon was addressed to all strata of society, so the language had to be as clear as possible. The symbol in Christian art also introduced a person to a higher reality, opaquely hinting that there are no analogues to the heavenly world in physical reality. At the end of the 19th century in France, symbolism turns into a separate cultural movement, the principles of which are realized in the visual arts, music and literature. Symbolist artists embody on their canvases images of higher reality, as far as possible from the horrors of the contemporary world. It was a kind of protest against the consequences of the implementation of the concept of modernity and changes in the mores of society. Despite the decline in the popularity of the ideas of symbolism at the beginning of the 20th century, its language will not lose its relevance as long as man exists.
Artistic features of symbolism
A strict canon that would allow strictly separating paintings in the style of symbolism from canvases of other directions did not arise. Symbolism – it is, first of all, a worldview setting that allows for the possibility of cognition of the highest reality with the help of an intuitive ascent from material images to incorporeal ideas. A specific symbol is perceived not as an independent value, but as a kind of another reality behind the visible world. The task of the artist – help the viewer to comprehend the hidden meaning and join the pure idea, gradually untying the mind from everything sensual. Therefore, the images on the canvases of symbolist artists often appear in a timeless space with a slightly distorted form, hidden in haze or shadows. There are no strict requirements for color schemes, but in most cases, artists prefer the twilight range, which contributes to the establishment of a mystical mood.
Types of characters
Conventionally, all symbols used by artists can be divided into 3 groups: universal human inner being, personal and higher reality. For example, plots from religious texts are filled with images that refer us to a transcendent reality: the all-seeing eye, the olive branch, the dove, the phoenix, the vine. Pentagrams, broken columns, light rays are used as symbols of man and consciousness. Anthropological models that operate in a particular culture play a special role here. With the help of a symbol, a person himself models the desired image of himself in accordance with the values of his social group. A special place in symbolism is occupied by personal symbolism. It is used less often than other varieties due to the difficulty of adequate perception and a certain existential isolation. Works with references to universal problems have always been more popular among viewers.