Art|Artwork

The Greatest Works of Art Featuring Symbolism

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Updated January 30, 2024 61.2K views 14 items

Throughout the centuries, numerous artists have captivated audiences with their ability to infuse complex symbolic meanings into their works. The greatest works of art featuring symbolism demonstrate the remarkable mastery of these artists in combining visual beauty with layers of hidden interpretations. With symbolic elements woven into the fabric of their creations, these masterpieces stand as shining examples of the power of symbolism in art, inviting viewers to discover and unlock their enigmatic secrets.

As showcases of skill, artistry, and talent, these symbolism artwork pieces are not only visually stunning but also rich in cultural, popular, and critical significance. Each painting represents the artist's ability to create enduring masterpieces that resonate with audiences throughout history. By incorporating symbolism in art, they challenge observers to look beyond the surface and contemplate the deeper meanings embedded within the composition, colors, and forms.

Celebrated examples of symbolism art, like Carlos Schwabe's The Death of the Gravedigger, Gustav Klimt's Danaë, and Jan Toorop's O grave, where is thy Victory, showcase the profound range and versatility of this artistic movement. Schwabe's piece juxtaposes life and death, showcasing the cyclical nature of existence. Klimt's Danaë illustrates the mythological tale with a sensuous touch, exuding both desire and vulnerability. Toorop's work, meanwhile, masterfully combines religious themes with modernist elements, reflecting an ever-evolving world grappling with faith and progress. These works exemplify the diverse range of symbolist art, each revealing the unique perspectives and visions of their creators.

The captivating realm of symbolism art offers a window into the depths of human experiences, emotions, and thoughts. The intricate interplay between artistic prowess and evocative symbolism in these timeless pieces invites contemplation and sparks conversation. As monuments to creative expression and the limitless possibilities of human imagination, these iconic works continue to inspire generations and stand as testaments to the enduring power and relevance of symbolism in art.

  • 1

    The Death of the Gravedigger

    The Death of the Gravedigger
    "The Death of the Gravedigger" (c. 1895-1900) is a painting by Swiss-German artist Carlos Schwabe.
    • Artist: Carlos Schwabe
    • Art Form: Painting
    • Period / Movement: Symbolist literature
    82 votes
    Good art?
  • 2

    The Three Brides

    The Three Brides
    "The Three Brides" (1893) is a drawing by Javanese-born Dutch artist Jan Toorop.
    • Artist: Jan Toorop
    • Art Form: Drawing
    • Period / Movement: Symbolist literature
    22 votes
    Good art?
  • 3

    Portrait of Violette Heymann

    Portrait of Violette Heymann
    Portrait of Violette Heymann (1910) is a painting by French Symbolist artist Odilon Redon.
    • Artist: Odilon Redon
    • Genres (Art): Portrait
    • Art Form: Painting
    • Period / Movement: Symbolist literature
    9 votes
    Good art?
  • 4

    Danaë

    Danaë
    Danaë is an oil painting by Gustav Klimt, created in 1907. An example of Symbolism, the canvas measures 77 x 83 cm, and is in the Galerie Würthle in Vienna. Danaë was a popular subject in the early 1900s for many artists; she was used as the quintessential symbol of divine love, and transcendence. While imprisoned by her father, King of Argos, in a tower of bronze, Danaë was visited by Zeus, symbolized here as the golden rain flowing between her legs. It is apparent from the subject's face that she is aroused by the golden stream. In this work, she is curled in a royal purple veil which refers to her imperial lineage. Sometime after her celestial visitation she gave birth to a son, Perseus, who is cited later in Greek mythology for slaying the Gorgon Medusa and rescuing Andromeda. Many early portrayals of Danaë were erotic; other paintings completed in similar style are Klimt's Medicine, and Water Snakes.
    • Artist: Gustav Klimt
    • Subject: Danaë
    • Genres (Art): History painting
    • Art Form: Painting
    • Period / Movement: Symbolist literature
    23 votes
    Good art?
  • 5

    O grave, where is thy Victory

    O grave, where is thy Victory
    "O grave, where is thy Victory" (1892) is a drawing by Javanese-born Dutch artist Jan Toorop.
    • Artist: Jan Toorop
    • Art Form: Drawing
    • Period / Movement: Symbolist literature
    17 votes
    Good art?
  • 6

    King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid

    King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid
    "King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid" (1884) is a painting by British artist Edward Burne-Jones.
    • Artist: Edward Burne-Jones
    • Genres (Art): History painting
    • Art Form: Painting
    • Period / Movement: Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Symbolist literature
    14 votes
    Good art?
  • 7

    The Prayer (Self Portrait)

    The Prayer (Self Portrait)
    "The Prayer (Self Portrait)" (1927) is a painting by Javanese-born Dutch artist Jan Toorop.
    • Artist: Jan Toorop
    • Subject: Jan Toorop
    • Art Form: Painting
    • Period / Movement: Symbolist literature
    13 votes
    Good art?
  • 8

    Ophelia among the Flowers

    Ophelia among the Flowers
    Ophelia among the Flowers (1905-1908) is a painting by French Symbolist artist Odilon Redon.
    • Artist: Odilon Redon
    • Subject: Ophelia
    • Art Form: Painting
    • Period / Movement: Symbolist literature
    10 votes
    Good art?
  • 9

    The Buddha

    The Buddha
    The Buddha (1905) is a painting by French Symbolist artist Odilon Redon.
    • Artist: Odilon Redon
    • Subject: Buddha
    • Art Form: Painting
    • Period / Movement: Symbolist literature
    11 votes
    Good art?
  • 10

    The New Generation

    The New Generation
    "The New Generation" (1892) is a painting by Javanese-born Dutch artist Jan Toorop.
    • Artist: Jan Toorop
    • Art Form: Painting
    • Period / Movement: Symbolist literature
    11 votes
    Good art?
  • 11

    Silhouette

    Silhouette
    • Artist: Robert Cook
    • Subject: Woman, Figurative art, Female
    • Genres (Art): Portrait
    • Art Form: Painting
    • Period / Movement: Contemporary art, Symbolist literature
    11 votes
    Good art?
  • 12

    The Yellow Christ

    The Yellow Christ
    The Yellow Christ is a painting executed by Paul Gauguin in autumn 1889 in Pont-Aven. Together with The Green Christ, it is considered to be one of the key works of Symbolism in painting. Gauguin first visited Pont-Aven in 1886. He returned to the village in early 1888 to stay until mid-October, when he left to join Vincent van Gogh in Arles, for little more than two months. Early in 1889, Gauguin was back to Pont-Aven to stay there until spring 1890. It was only for a short visit in summer 1889 to Paris to see the Exposition universelle and to arrange the Volpini Exhibition that Gauguin interrupted this sojourn. Soon after his return to Pont-Aven he painted The Yellow Christ: The Yellow Christ is a symbolic piece that shows the crucifixion of Christ taking place in nineteenth-century northern France as Breton women are gathered in prayer. Gauguin relies heavily on bold lines to define his figures and reserves shading only for the women. The autumn palette of yellow, red and green in the landscape echoes the dominant yellow in the figure of Christ. The bold outlines and flatness of the forms in this painting are typical of the cloisonnist style.
    • Artist: Paul Gauguin
    • Subject: Passion, Jesus Christ
    • Art Form: Painting
    • Period / Movement: Symbolist literature
    14 votes
    Good art?
  • 13

    Madonna

    Madonna
    Madonna is the usual title given to a composition by the Norwegian expressionist painter Edvard Munch. Munch painted several versions of the composition, showing a bare-breasted half-length female figure, between 1892 and 1895, using oils on canvas. He also produced versions in print form. The version owned by the Munch Museum of Oslo was stolen in 2004 but recovered two years later. Two other versions are owned by the National Gallery of Norway and the Kunsthalle Hamburg. Another one is owned by businessman Nelson Blitz, and one was bought in 1999 by Steven A. Cohen. The lithographic print of the composition is distinguished by a decorative border depicting wriggling sperm, with a fetus-like figure in its bottom left corner. The 1893 version of the painting had a frame with similar decoration, but it was later removed and lost. The print also exists in a number of different versions.
    • Artist: Edvard Munch
    • Subject: Madonna
    • Genres (Art): Visionary art
    • Art Form: Painting
    • Period / Movement: Expressionism, Symbolist literature
    11 votes
    Good art?
  • 14

    Desire and Satisfaction

    Desire and Satisfaction
    "Desire and Satisfaction" (1893) is a painting by Dutch artist Jan Toorop.
    • Artist: Jan Toorop
    • Art Form: Painting
    • Period / Movement: Symbolist literature
    4 votes
    Good art?