Symbolism
Symbolism starts its origins from late 19th
century France. Symbolism became famous and spread to Europe quickly.
Symbolism’s began as a literary concept and soon gained its popularity by other
artists who went against Naturalism and Realism. Symbolist painters believed
that art should represent ideas and emotions rather than representing the
natural world around us. Thus, Symbolist artists returned to the Romantics’
personal expressiveness. Symbolist paints achieved this expressiveness by experimenting with colour tones, line and composition, this would help the viewer understand
the meaning or idea the artist is trying to express. Symbolism lasted till the
beginning of the First World War (1914-1918).
Fernand Khnopff- The Caresses (or The
Sphinx) (1896)
This painting by
Fernand Khbopff shows the confrontation between a man and Cheetah-like sphinx.
This painting shows a very mysterious, original and eye catching scene. It is
also quite unusual as well. The sphinx was a creature that asked a riddle to
people that encountered it, those who said the wrong answer would be killed. It
is said that the painting shows the depiction of Oedipus, the man that answered
correctly the sphinx’s riddle. Some art historians believe that the sphinx
shows depictions of power, seduction and domination, common subjects that
Khnopff represented in his work. I believe that the painting itself gives a
very mysterious look. The sphinx looks dangerous and threatening, yet the man
is still calm and seems to be not bothered by the presence of the sphinx. The
woman’s face also gives out a strange and mysterious look because the animal’s
body looks as if it is charging or attacking, yet her expression is rather
quite calm. The interesting effect that the painting achieves is that one would
automatically look at the cheetah’s body because of its striking yellow colour.
Because of its posture one would automatically suggest that it’s charging or
attacking, then one would start seeing the whole picture and the faces of the
man and the woman completely show the opposite feel of a struggle. The painting
shows the inclusion of the golden ration between the cheetah and the man.
Khnoppff clearly balanced out the painting using dull and bright colours. This
also helps the viewer to focus on the cheetah first. There is also a balance between the sphinx and
the background, as it is the only entity that depicts movement as the rest of
the painting looks rather still as if they are frozen.References
1.) Myers, Nicole, Symbolism, Available from: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/symb/hd_symb.htm. [19 November 2014]
2.) Howe, 19th Century Painting, Available from: http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/art/khnopff.html, [19 Novemebr 2014]
3.) Caresses by Fernard Khnopff, 2012, Available from: http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2012/12/13/caresses-by-fernand-khnopff/, [19 November 2014]
