French Symbolism

French Symbolism was a late 19th-century literary and artistic movement that sought to express emotions and ideas through symbolic imagery rather than direct representation. It emerged as a reaction against realism and naturalism, emphasizing the importance of the subjective experience. Symbolist poets, like Charles Baudelaire and Paul Verlaine, used vivid metaphors and allusions to evoke feelings and explore deeper meanings. The movement influenced not only poetry but also painting and music, encouraging artists to delve into the dreamlike, mystical, and spiritual realms, ultimately paving the way for modernist and avant-garde movements in the 20th century.