Selene and Endymion 

Edmund Dulac's "Selene and Endymion" presents a nocturnal tableau of ethereal figures set within a dark and lush forest. The artist has crafted a composition where the cool blues and greens evoke a dreamlike state, contrasting the earthly and the divine. Dulac uses vertical space to separate Selene and Endymion into separate visual planes. Selene is depicted as floating down from the upper portion of the picture, while Endymion reclines in the lower portion of the picture. The artist plays with the interplay between light and shadow, a dichotomy that blurs the line between reality and illusion. This interplay is heightened by the semiotic use of the forest's natural elements, like the fern fronds and the gnarled tree branches, to create a sense of depth and mystery. The use of form and space are not merely aesthetic choices, but they serve to undermine the boundaries between the mortal and immortal, challenging our understanding of hierarchical structures. The artwork remains, therefore, a dynamic site for exploring philosophical concepts about love, beauty, and the human condition.