Symbolism - Artwork Examples

The Storm - Edvard Munch

The storm by Edvard Munch is a very simplistic painting at first glance. It does however have symbolic meanings. As we see in this painting there are people standing outside in a storm however the storm may also represent an argument or event which has occurred involving these people. The storm is not just physical but also an emotional thing. The figures are simplified to point of anonymity so we cannot tell who they are, we can however tell the woman in white is very innocent and caught up in this situation. We can tell this by the colour of her dress which is white. This is the natural colour of innocence. The storm is therefore connected to her and her innocence.

Green Death - Odilon Redon

This is a symbolistic painting painted by Odilon Redon. In this piece of artwork a green figure is rising out of a snake. This has many symbolic references and meanings. For example at the time the drink Absinthe was very popular and killed lots of people. Absinthe here is being portrayed by the green spirit rising out of a snake. The green death has symbolic references to intoxicated people and life styles. The picture could also resemble the suspension of regular patterns of thinkings. Overall the painting has very symbolistic meaning.

Masks Confronting Death - James Ensar

This is a painting by James Ensar. It was painted in the 19th century when symbolism was in full swing. The painting has obvious symbolistic messages. For example in this shot many masked and strange people are confronting death. This could represent bad people asking death to be killed in order to free them from their sins. They may be followers of death in the sense that they kill people, for example they may be murderers. Another meaning could be that death is represented as a good thing and that in dying we are free from the bad things in life. Death is depicted as wearing posh robes and royal clothing in order to make it look good. The masked people therefore represent the bad things in life.

It isnt just 19th century painters that used symbolism within their work. Symbolism is seen in Henry Cartier Bresson's work too. For example in this shot taken in Poland we can see lots of hidden meanings. The word 'railowsky' seen in the background is a typical german jewish word. This lets us know of the time and the troubles that were occuring. The man in the shot is also running which signifies he is running from a troubled regime or from Hitlers SS men. There are also links to the countries fate as symbolised by the broken ladder. It resembles that the country is in stalemate and that it is going nowhere. The broken wheel also symbolises mankind is breaking as the wheel was mans first invention.