Madness

"Madness" exemplifies the Symbolism movement's focus on exploring psychological depth and emotional intensity. The painting employs evocative imagery and rich symbolism to depict the tumult of the human mind, reminiscent of the movement’s roots in poetic influences like Baudelaire’s The Flowers of Evil. Artists often employed sketch and study techniques to capture complex inner states before finalizing their work, and "Madness" reveals these layered studies through its expressive brushwork. As a product of its peak period (1885–1905), the painting embodies the shift of Symbolism from poetry to other arts, emphasizing mystical and subconscious themes over literal representation.