Art is the Solution

Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra Source: Art Institute of Chicago For centuries, classical mythology has been a prime source of material for Western artists. Between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries in particular, these stories seemed to have near universal appeal to painters. The labors of Hercules—a series of stories that detail twelve tasks undertaken by the hero Hercules in service of King Eurystheus—were an especially popular subject among European viewers. While paintings of Hercules abound, few artists had a more profound connection to the character than French painter Gustave Moreau. Moreau was one of the primary leaders of the Symbolist movement, and he was fascinated by the story of Hercules, a subject he returned to many times throughout his career. Moreau’s primary consideration as an artist was to convey truth through his work. In the case of Hercules, he achieved this by using the greatest hero of Greek mythology as a metaphor for the ancient, archetypal battle betwe...

Dejanira (Autumn) Source: J. Paul Getty Museum Today is the first day of fall! In honor of the new season, I wanted to share a painting with you that captures the autumnal spirit: Dejanira or Autumn by Gustave Moreau. Dejanira (Autumn) depicts a story from Greek mythology. According to legend, Dejanira was the wife of the great hero Hercules. One day, while attempting to cross a river, Dejanira was abducted by a wild centaur named Nessus. However, Hercules was able to rescue his wife by hiding among the rocks on the other side of the river and successfully ambushing and killing Nessus. This incident indirectly led to Hercules’ death. Moreau’s painting captures Nessus carrying Dejanira across the stream, the moment before the pivotal battle between the centaur and the hero. It can be seen as the calm before the storm, a liminal space on the edge of death and destruction. Moreau was one of the primary leaders of the Symbolist movement, which reacted against the increasing industriali...

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 mytholo...