Freed from the constraints of academism by the impressionist revolution, the artists innovate and take directions unthinkable until then, paving the way for modern art.
Symbolism, originating in literature and then expanding into the visual arts, was a reaction against the perceived materialism and rationalism of the late 19th century. Symbolist artists such as Gustave Moreau and Odilon Redon employed symbolic imagery and allegory to evoke spiritual and psychological themes, often featuring dreamlike or fantastical elements, exploring the realms of the subconscious and the mystical.
Built upon the impressionist emphasis on capturing light and color but pushed further, post-impressionism experiments with subjectivity, form and colour in a more radical way, leading to later movements like fauvism and expressionism.
Fauvism, led by Henri Matisse and André Derain, emerges in the early 20th century as a bold departure from the naturalistic representation of color. Breaking away from the conventions of realistic representation, fauvist artists use vivid, non-naturalistic colors applied in bold, expressive brushstrokes to create highly emotional and energetic works.
Together, these movements represented a break from academic traditions and a quest for new forms of artistic expression. They laid the groundwork for the experimentation and innovation that would define much of 20th-century art, inspiring generations of artists to come.
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