Definition & Bedeutung von "symbolism"

What is "symbolism"?

Symbolism was an artistic and literary movement that began in the late 19th century, mainly in France. It focused on expressing ideas and emotions through shapes and images that suggest their subject rather than actual representations. Writers like Charles Baudelaire and Stéphane Mallarmé used language that cause strong images, memories, or emotion to mind to convey deeper meanings and feelings, often exploring themes about spirituality and personal experiences. In art, painters like Gustave Moreau and Odilon Redon used imaginative and dreamlike visuals to represent abstract concepts and emotions. Symbolism aimed to go beyond the literal and direct, using figurative and indirect representations to explore complex ideas and personal emotions.