The Symbolist Manifesto

The Symbolist Manifesto, written in 1886 by French poet Jean Moréas, was a key text in the Symbolist movement, which sought to express deep emotions and ideas through symbolism rather than direct representation. Symbolists believed that art should evoke feelings and spiritual truths, using suggestive images and metaphors. They rejected strict realism and sought to explore the inner world of the imagination. The manifesto emphasized the importance of individual expression and the idea that art should inspire rather than simply replicate reality, influencing literature, poetry, and visual arts significantly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.