Les Licornes (The Unicorns) by Gustave Moreau (Interpretation and Analysis)

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Les Licornes
Source: Artsy
Symbolism was a reaction against the increasing industrialization and standardization of the modern world. The Realist movement celebrated these aspects of modern life, and Realist painters devoted themselves to capturing the world in all its gritty disarray. The Symbolists, however, felt that artists should seek a higher truth in their work. French artist Gustave Moreau—one of the leaders of the Symbolist movement—sought to achieve this through mythological and religious subjects, portrayed in a fantastical style that drew inspiration from the art of the Italian Renaissance.

While many of his paintings are wonderfully weird, dramatic, and elaborate (in the best possible sense), Les Licornes is a particularly lavish and fantastical piece. The painting depicts a group of richly dressed princesses surrounded by a herd of unicorns. According to my research, the painting depicts a magical island with an all-female population, inspired by Themyscira, the mythological home of the Amazons, a race of warrior women.

While the inspiration might be mythological, the lineage of the subject dates to the Medieval period. Unicorn hunts were a common theme in paintings and in tapestries. In Western mythology, a unicorn can only be touched by a virgin, making it a symbol of purity and grace. However, in Moreau’s painting, the unicorn takes on a sexual undertone, a symbol of decadence and luxury. It reflects emotional fervor and a more spiritually-intense reality.

The exact significance of the piece is unclear. However, Moreau’s unorthodox approach to style and form and his loose, painterly style gives the painting a dreamlike aura that is intoxicating.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.

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