Symbolism is among the most complex art movements to define. Although it followed on the heels of Impressionism, whose imagery was accessible and bright, Symbolism’s dark and mysterious vocabulary is far less known.

While Symbolist artists were aligned in their embrace of the creative imagination, they used diverse styles and drew inspiration from the past, the future, and the interior self. Complicating the movement further was its lack of a single central hub; instead Symbolism was a loosely connected trend across Europe.

Symbolism, in fact, began as a literary movement in France in the 1880s and later expanded to visual art in Belgium, Germany, Norway, and elsewhere. Reacting against rationalism, materialism, and Impressionism’s focus on the external world, Symbolist artists sought instead to represent the unseeable—ideas and emotions. These artists shared a general cynicism about the late 19th century’s moral decline, technological advancements brought about by rapid industrialization, and the rural flight to urban centers.

In response they made art that invented alternate realities. Some artists turned to the past, transposing mythological and religious subjects onto the present moment; others turned to the future, imagining anarchist or idyllic worlds; while still others sought meaning by examining and excavating the self.

This exhibition features works on paper by iconic Symbolist artists such as Norwegian Edvard Munch, as well as lesser-known figures like the Austrian Emilie Mediz-Pelikan, the Belgian Léon Spilliaert, and the French Gustav Adolf Mossa. Drawn from the Art Institute of Chicago’s rich and historic collection of drawings and prints, including the largest collection in America of the French Odilon Redon and Paul Gauguin, this display features over 85 works that capture the beauty and strangeness of a mysterious generation of artists.

Strange Realities: The Symbolist Imagination is curated by Jay A. Clarke, Rothman Family Curator, Prints and Drawings, and Jamie Vaught-Karasek, collection manager, Photography and Media.