Difference between symbolism and impressionism

Symbolism and Impressionism are two distinctly different movements in art and literature. Symbolism is an artistic and literary movement that began in the late 19th century, and is characterized by the use of symbols to express an idea or emotion. It is heavily influenced by the work of French poets such as Charles Baudelaire and Paul Verlaine. By contrast, Impressionism is a school of painting that originated in France in the late 19th century and is characterized by the use of light and color to convey a mood or moment.

Symbolism is a form of expression that uses symbols to represent an idea, emotion, or concept. It is typically used to convey a spiritual or metaphysical meaning, and often has a strong link to mythology and the occult. Symbolism is often used to evoke a certain feeling or mood, and to create a sense of mystery, and the unknown. Symbolism is also used to explore the depths of the human soul, and to express ideas that lie beyond the boundaries of everyday life.

Impressionism, on the other hand, is a style of painting that uses light and color to create a mood or atmosphere. Impressionists use light, color, and brushstrokes to capture the fleeting impressions of a moment, and to convey a sense of movement and energy. Impressionists often painted outdoors, or “en plein air”, and focused on capturing the momentary effects of light and color. They also used broken brushstrokes and a bright color palette to convey a sense of spontaneity and immediacy.

In short, Symbolism is a form of expression that uses symbols to convey an idea or emotion, whereas Impressionism is a style of painting that uses light and color to capture the fleeting impressions of a moment.