Parsifal, Act II; Evocation of Kundry c. 1886

Henri Fantin-Latour created this lithograph titled "Parsifal, Act II; Evocation of Kundry" using black ink to produce a composition of stark contrasts and ethereal forms. The dark palette and dense crosshatching give the scene a dreamlike quality. Fantin-Latour uses the formal elements of line and form to evoke a sense of mystical drama. A figure, possibly Klingsor, is depicted hunched over a book, while the spectral form of Kundry emerges from the shadows. Her body is strangely elongated, almost shapeless, challenging conventional notions of beauty and form. This distortion could reflect the Symbolist movement's interest in exploring inner psychological states and the darker aspects of human experience. The lithograph reflects Symbolism's broader cultural preoccupation with themes of spirituality, mythology, and the irrational. The work destabilizes established meanings, inviting viewers to contemplate the complex interplay between good and evil, desire and redemption. In this piece, Fantin-Latour employs darkness not merely as a backdrop, but as an active agent in the psychological drama, enveloping the figures and deepening the mystery.