Ever looked at a painting and thought, “What does this even mean?” You’re not alone. Some art isn’t just about what you see—it’s about what it represents. That’s where symbolism in art comes in.

It can feel confusing at first. A flower might not just be a flower. A dark sky might stand for sadness. Artists used symbolism to share deeper messages, emotions, and ideas—without spelling it all out.

As Symbolist artist Odilon Redon once said, 

“The visible world was no longer a reality and the unseen world became a reality.”

Symbolism was about looking beyond what’s in front of you and diving into the invisible—thoughts, dreams, fears, and feelings.

The good news? You don’t need to be an art expert to understand it. Let’s see what symbolism in art means, where it came from, and how you can start seeing the hidden stories behind the paint.

Key Takeaways

• Symbolism art is about showing emotions, dreams, and deeper meanings. 

• It started in the late 1800s as a reaction to realistic art. 

• Symbolist artists used symbols to say things without words. 

• Common themes include mystery, the soul, and the unseen world. 

• Famous artists include Gustave Moreau, Odilon Redon, and Edvard Munch. 

• Symbolism is different from Realism and Surrealism—it focuses more on feelings and inner thoughts. 

• Symbolism shows us that art isn’t just what we see—it’s also what we feel.

What is Symbolism?

Symbolism is all about going beyond what the eye can see. Instead of showing real-life scenes or copying the outside world, Symbolist artists focused on the inside—emotions, dreams, fears, and imagination. They used symbols, colors, and strange or dreamy images to say things that words couldn’t explain.

This movement began in the late 1800s, mostly in France and Belgium, as a reaction against Realism and Impressionism. While those styles focused on the outer world—what you can see and touch—Symbolism turned inward. Artists believed that art should reflect what’s hidden beneath the surface.

Rather than painting what was real, they painted what was felt. A single flower could represent love. A stormy sky might stand for a troubled mind. For Symbolists, every image held a deeper meaning, even if it wasn’t clear at first glance.

The History of Symbolism

Symbolism began in Europe during the late 19th century, around the 1880s. It started as a literary movement. There were poets in France and Belgium who wanted to move away from writing about everyday life. They were tired of Realism and Naturalism, which focused on facts, logic, and the outside world. Instead, these writers wanted to explore feelings, dreams, and the mysteries of the mind.

Artists soon followed. Like the poets, they felt that art had become too focused on what could be seen and measured. They believed there was more to life than just physical reality. So, they turned to symbols—images that stood for something deeper, like hope, fear, love, or death.

Symbolism was closely tied to philosophy and ideas about the human soul, spirituality, and the unconscious. Many artists were inspired by myths, religion, and literature. They wanted to express the unseen—what lives inside us but can’t always be explained.

While it started in France and Belgium, Symbolism quickly spread across Europe and influenced many painters, writers, and thinkers. It became a quiet but powerful movement that helped open the door to modern art styles like Expressionism and Surrealism.

8 Key Characteristics of Symbolism Art

Symbolist art was never about copying the real world. Instead, it aimed to show what couldn't be seen—emotions, dreams, fears, and spiritual questions. The spiritual art also focused on spiritual questions. The artists believed that art should express something deeper than just appearances. Here’s what makes Symbolism stand out.

1. Dream-like imagery

Many Symbolist artworks look like they come from a dream or fantasy. The scenes often feel quiet, mysterious, or even haunting. Reality is twisted, soft, or completely reimagined.

2. Mythological and religious themes

Artists often turned to ancient stories, legends, and spiritual texts for inspiration. They used well-known characters like angels, gods, and mythological creatures to represent human struggles, love, or transformation.
3. Emotional focus 

Instead of showing what things looked like, Symbolists tried to capture what they felt like. Sadness, loneliness, desire, or confusion often take center stage, sometimes without needing a clear story.

4. Spiritual undertones 

Many artists explored the invisible world: the soul, the afterlife, and the idea that there's more to life than what we see. Their work often felt quiet and introspective, like a window into the human mind.

5. Symbol-heavy visuals

Symbolist artists believed that objects could carry meaning beyond their physical form. A bird could mean freedom. A locked door might suggest isolation. These symbols were often personal and open to interpretation.

6. Soft, flowing lines and muted colors 

The style was often delicate and fluid, with dark or muted tones. This gave the artwork a moody, thoughtful atmosphere, rather than bright and busy detail.

7. Personal expression over public message 

Unlike political art or realistic scenes, Symbolism was more about the artist’s inner world. Each painting was a personal journey, meant to be felt rather than fully explained.

8. Rejection of realism and logic 

Symbolists didn’t want to paint what they saw. They wanted to paint what they imagined, dreamed, or felt. Logic took a backseat to mystery.

Overall, Symbolism invites you to look beyond the surface and explore meaning through feeling, metaphor, and the unknown. It’s less about getting a “right answer” and more about what the artwork awakens in you.

5 Famous Symbolist Works

Symbolism brought together artists who used imagination, metaphor, and emotion to explore themes like death, love, dreams, and the human soul. Their work wasn't always easy to understand at first glance—but that was the point. This style of paintings invited viewers to look closer, feel deeper, and discover meaning hidden behind every color and figure.

1. Gustave Moreau – Oedipus and the Sphinx

Moreau was one of the early leaders of Symbolist art, known for his intricate, almost jewel-like paintings filled with mythological themes. In Oedipus and the Sphinx (1864), he paints the moment when Oedipus faces the riddle of the Sphinx, a creature that kills anyone who answers incorrectly. 

This isn't just a dramatic scene—it symbolizes the human search for knowledge and truth, the battle between reason and mystery. Moreau’s use of rich detail and mysterious atmosphere adds to the sense that something deeper is at stake than just survival.

2. Odilon Redon – The Cyclops

Redon’s art feels like it comes straight from a dream. The Cyclops (c. 1914) shows a giant, gentle-eyed creature peeking over a mountain at a sleeping nymph. Unlike the terrifying monsters in myths, this Cyclops seems curious, even tender. 

Redon used this figure to explore the idea of the unknown—not everything hidden is meant to be feared. His use of soft colors, flowing shapes, and surreal landscapes gives the painting a calm, dreamy tone, making it feel like a moment from the unconscious mind.

3. Edvard Munch – The Scream

Although Munch is more often associated with Expressionism, many of his early works were heavily influenced by Symbolist ideas. The Scream (1893) is his most famous painting and a powerful example of turning emotion into imagery. The twisted figure, the screaming mouth, and the swirling, fiery sky all combine to express pure anxiety and existential dread. 

Munch wasn’t painting what someone looked like—he was painting what fear felt like. The work is symbolic of the silent inner screams many people experience but cannot express.

4. Fernand Khnopff – I Lock My Door Upon Myself

This Belgian artist often explored themes of solitude, memory, and the hidden self. In I Lock My Door Upon Myself (1891), a woman sits quietly, surrounded by red flowers and symbolic objects. She looks distant, as if lost in her thoughts or memories. The title, borrowed from a Christina Rossetti poem, reflects emotional isolation and inner retreat. 

The oil painting uses quiet symbolism—flowers for love or loss, water for time passing—to show how we often create our own emotional worlds, locking ourselves away for protection or reflection.

5. Arnold Böcklin – Isle of the Dead

One of the most iconic Symbolist paintings, Isle of the Dead (1880–1886) shows a rowboat approaching a dark, rocky island lined with cypress trees. These are the symbols often linked to mourning and the afterlife. A figure in white stands in the boat, possibly representing a soul being carried to its final resting place. 

The silence of the scene is powerful. There's no clear narrative, but it stirs a sense of mystery, peace, and sadness. Böcklin never fully explained its meaning, which only adds to its symbolic power—it becomes a mirror for the viewer’s own thoughts about death and the unknown.

These works show how Symbolist artists used stories, myths, and emotion to create deeply personal and meaningful images. They weren’t interested in surface beauty alone—they wanted their art to speak to the spirit, the subconscious, and the universal human experience.

Symbolism vs Other Art Movements

Symbolism may seem mysterious, but it becomes easier to understand when you compare it to other major art movements. Each style had a different goal—what to show, how to show it, and why. Symbolism stood out because it focused on the unseen rather than the visible.

Symbolism vs Realism

Realism was all about painting everyday life exactly as it looked—honest, unfiltered, and sometimes even harsh. Artists painted workers, city streets, and ordinary moments. Symbolists did the opposite. They weren’t interested in what things looked like—they wanted to show what things meant. Where Realism focused on the outside world, Symbolism turned inward, focusing on emotions, ideas, and spiritual experiences.

Symbolism vs Romanticism

Romanticism came earlier and also focused on emotion, but in a dramatic, passionate way. Romantic artists loved nature, heroism, and powerful feelings like love or tragedy. Symbolism borrowed that emotional intensity, but made it quieter and more mysterious. Instead of showing a dramatic storm, a Symbolist might show a single flower in the dark—leaving it up to the viewer to feel the meaning behind it.

Symbolism vs Surrealism

Surrealism, which came after Symbolism, also explored dreams and the unconscious mind. But Surrealists used shock, surprise, and strange combinations of objects to challenge reality. Symbolists were more subtle. Their works were softer, more poetic, and more focused on inner emotions than strange juxtapositions. You could say Symbolism walked so Surrealism could run. You can check the Surrealist paintings here. 

In short, Symbolism stood at a unique crossroads. It reacted against the hard facts of Realism, took emotional depth from Romanticism, and opened the door for future movements like Surrealism. It mattered because it reminded people that art wasn’t just about what you see—it could also be about what you feel.

Why Symbolism Art Still Matters Today

Even though Symbolism started over a hundred years ago, its impact is still felt today. Modern artists, designers, and even filmmakers continue to draw on Symbolist ideas—using images to explore deep emotions, spiritual questions, and the mysteries of the human mind.

In a world full of fast images and surface-level content, Symbolism reminds us to slow down and look deeper. It speaks to people who are searching for more than just beauty or realism in art. If you’ve ever looked at a painting and asked, “What does this mean?” or “Why does this make me feel something I can’t explain?”—that’s the power of Symbolism at work.

Today, many artists are inspired by the same things Symbolists were drawn to: dreams, myths, personal struggles, and the inner world. Psychology and mental health are big topics in art now. Symbolist ideas like using visual symbols to express hidden emotions fit right in. The movement also connects with people who are exploring spirituality or searching for meaning beyond the material world.

Symbolism matters because it shows us that art doesn’t have to explain everything. Sometimes, its job is just to reflect the quiet, complicated things inside us—and let us find our own meaning in the mystery.

Conclusion

Symbolism was never about clear answers or perfect details—it was about feeling, mystery, and meaning. Symbolist artists opened a door to the inner world. They used symbols to explore everything from dreams and emotions to life, death, and the soul. Their work invites us to slow down, look closer, and connect with something deeper.

As Gustave Moreau once said, 

“I have wanted to place humanity back in the supernatural.” 

That’s exactly what Symbolism aimed to do—remind us that there's more to life than what we can see, and that art can be a bridge between the everyday and the unknown.

Even today, Symbolism continues to speak to anyone searching for meaning beneath the surface. It's not just an art movement—it's a way of seeing the world.