Symbolist Art in Context

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The interest of this book mainly lies in the quantity of material covered by the author.As the title suggests, there are numerous elements of historical context, the broader picture of circumstances into which artworks have been produced and fitted into.The discussion addresses a multitude of themes and includes artists from all European countries, which makes this book a really useful resource to start with the subject matter.The downside may be that at times the discussion is rather descriptive and narrative rather than analytical, and some comments are not so much of relevance to the wider point. It may feel occasionally more like a catalogue of various concepts and artists than a genuine line of argument, once gone beyond the explanation of the point for every single chapter.Still well worth the read to acquire a broad and thorough understanding of SymbolismIntroduction: What Is Symbolist Art?, 1;1. Beginnings, 9;2. Precursors, 39;3. Decadence and Degeneration, 65;4. Idealism, Religion, and Reform, 91;5. Contested Gender, 115;6. National Romanticism, 147;7. Promoting Symbolist Art, 167;8. Symbolist Currents in the Twentieth Century, 191;Notes, 209;Select Bibliography, 239;List of Illustration, 251;Index, 255