Song Of Songs 

Gustave Moreau made this painting, “Song of Songs,” using watercolor and gouache, sometime in the late 19th century. It depicts a female figure, adorned with jewels and set against an architectural backdrop and a setting sun, evoking themes of love, beauty, and perhaps even eroticism, drawn from the biblical text. Moreau was a key figure in the Symbolist movement, which rejected realism in favor of exploring subjective experience through mythological or dreamlike imagery. To understand this painting, it is useful to consider the social and cultural context of late 19th-century France. The painting's Orientalist elements, the opulence and exoticism, reflect a fascination with non-Western cultures that was prevalent in Europe due to colonialism and trade. Moreau's academic training also influenced his art; the classical references and meticulous detail are evident in the figure's pose and the architectural elements. As historians, we look to sources like exhibition reviews, personal letters, and studies of the Symbolist movement to understand the work. By examining these contexts, we can better appreciate how Moreau's art engaged with the aesthetic and intellectual currents of his time.