symbolist movement
C2Formal, Academic, Artistic
Definition
Meaning
A late 19th-century artistic and literary movement originating in France that emphasised the use of symbols to suggest ideas, emotions, and states of mind, rather than direct representation.
Broadly, any subsequent artistic movement or school of thought that employs a similar symbolic, allusive, and suggestive approach, rejecting realism and naturalism in favour of evoking deeper, often mystical or subjective, meanings.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is almost exclusively used historically to refer to the specific French-led movement of the late 1800s. Its use to describe later trends is typically qualified (e.g., 'neo-symbolist movement'). It is a proper noun when referring to the historical period.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties treat it as a proper noun with capitalisation when referring to the specific historical movement ('the Symbolist Movement').
Connotations
Connotations are identical: associated with high art, poetry, mysticism, and a reaction against realism and materialism.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both varieties, confined to art history, literary studies, and cultural criticism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The Symbolist movement [verb: emerged, flourished, rejected, influenced]...A key tenet of the Symbolist movement was...Artists associated with the Symbolist movement...The legacy of the Symbolist movement can be seen in...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Core term in studies of 19th-century European art and literature. Used in papers, theses, and lectures.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used in educated conversation about art history.
Technical
Specific term in art history and literary criticism, with defined period (c. 1880-1900) and characteristics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The gallery is hosting an exhibition on Symbolist painters like Redon and Moreau.
- Her poetry has a distinctly Symbolist sensibility.
American English
- The museum acquired a major Symbolist painting from the 1890s.
- His early work shows strong Symbolist influences.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Symbolist movement was important in France a long time ago.
- These painters were part of a movement called Symbolism.
- The Symbolist Movement, which began in France, used symbols to express ideas instead of realistic images.
- Poets like Mallarmé were central figures in the Symbolist movement, challenging direct description.
- Rejecting the materialism of the Realists, the Symbolist movement sought to depict not the external world, but the internal world of ideas and emotions through evocative symbols.
- The legacy of the Symbolist movement is profound, providing a crucial bridge between Romanticism and the modernist avant-gardes of the early 20th century.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SYMBOL (like a rose) used by a group of ART-ISTS (movement) to express hidden feelings, not just to show a pretty flower.
Conceptual Metaphor
ART IS A MYSTERY TO BE DECODED. (The movement treats the artwork as a veil hiding deeper truths, requiring interpretation.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'simvolizm' which is the direct translation and correct, but ensure the historical context (French origin, specific time period) is maintained. It is not a general term for any use of symbols.
Common Mistakes
- Using lower case ('symbolist movement') when referring specifically to the historical period. Using it as a general adjective for any symbolic art (e.g., 'Shakespeare's symbolist use of storms' is anachronistic).
Practice
Quiz
What was a primary goal of the Symbolist movement?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it began strongly in poetry (with figures like Baudelaire, Mallarmé, and Verlaine), it quickly encompassed painting (Moreau, Redon), theatre (Mæterlinck), and music (Debussy, Scriabin).
All art can use symbols. The Symbolist movement was a specific historical period and theory that made the symbol the central, essential vehicle of artistic expression, deliberately opposing literal description and scientific realism.
Yes, essentially. 'Symbolism' is the name of the movement, and 'Symbolist movement' is a descriptive phrase for it. They are used interchangeably in art historical context.
Yes. While it originated in France, it had significant followers and variants across Europe, including in Russia (the Russian Symbolists like Blok and Bely), Belgium, Austria, and beyond.