The Unicorns 1885

Gustave Moreau created "The Unicorns", an oil on canvas painting, sometime before his death in 1898. Moreau’s paintings reflect the late 19th century French Symbolist movement. The symbolists reacted against the increasing industrialization of society and embraced spirituality and the imagination. Here, Moreau departs from traditional representations of women and explores themes of female power and eroticism. The painting’s composition divides the women into two distinct realms: one elaborately clothed and the other seminude. Moreau draws on classical mythology and biblical tales to create a dreamlike scene. His female figures are surrounded by symbols of purity and virginity, the unicorns. The figures are enigmatic, their expressions conveying a sense of mystery. This piece reflects Moreau's complex and personal mythology. The painting’s ambiguity invites us to interpret and project our own desires onto it. It is an exploration of the interplay between desire, power, and myth, inviting us to contemplate our own projections onto its symbolism.