Mythological themes in painting of Gustave Moreau

Abstract

Mythological representations of Gustave Moreau were based on a wide knowledge and a great respect of ancient times, identified by the artist as the starting point of the European culture and art, and from which he drew the inspiration. However, he went a step further, interpreting the myth with regard to his time and symbolism in painting, and transforming it into a new symbol whose meaning was revealed only within the community and the climate in which it was created. The triumph of men over mythological creatures, monsters and dangers, represents for Moreau the heroism of the whole human race. There can be recognized three types of heroes in his work a hero rebel who opposes the higher powers, for which he is punished, exiled hero, who can not reconcile with society so he is rejected or he goes away, and the hero faced with his arch-enemy, in the moment of the greatest temptation. In constant conflict with the hero is the anti-hero, which Moreau created on the base of female characters in ancient mythology. In this way, he confronted the magical powers and sensuality with the determination of mind and spirit. A typical anti-hero in his paintings was the beauty who seduces, tempts and leads to danger. This made the painter close to the phenomenon of the evil woman, popular in the arts and culture of the 19th century. The juxtaposition of heroes and anti-heroes in the same painting, thus highlighting their differences, is also characteristic of Moreau's art. Using the myth, the painter speaks of the contrast between two types of personalities, as well as the conflicts within each individual the struggle of reason against emotion, spirit against instinct. The dualism of human nature, heroic humanity and monstrous animality, was presented as a struggle between spirit and matter, in which the artist sometimes left the questions open to interpretation, but a belief in justice and truth can be seen in his entire work.