{"product_id":"oedipus-and-the-sphinx-gustave-moreau","title":"Oedipus and the Sphinx - Gustave Moreau","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic Symbolist work by Gustave Moreau, depicting the tense psychological encounter between Oedipus and the Sphinx.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGustave Moreau painted this work in 1864, marking his return to the Paris Salon after a period of absence. It depicts the Greek myth of Oedipus encountering the Sphinx on the road to Thebes. The composition focuses on the direct gaze between the two figures, creating a psychological tension that defines the encounter. The Sphinx, a hybrid creature with the body of a lion and the wings and head of a woman, clings to the chest of the young hero. Oedipus stands firm, holding a staff, his expression calm and resolute as he prepares to answer the creature's riddle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMoreau employs a meticulous technique, influenced by his study of Italian Renaissance masters such as Mantegna and Leonardo da Vinci. The background features a rocky, desolate mountain pass, which contrasts with the precise rendering of the figures. The presence of a decorative column and a small plant in the foreground adds a layer of artifice, common in Moreau's approach to mythological subjects. The remains of previous victims, visible at the base of the painting, provide a grim context for the danger Oedipus faces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work is characteristic of the Symbolist movement, which prioritised subjective experience and dreamlike imagery over the objective reality favoured by the Realists. Moreau avoids a literal interpretation of the myth, choosing instead to focus on the enigmatic nature of the interaction. The cool, muted tones of the rock face serve to draw attention to the figures, while the subtle use of light emphasises the physical form of the protagonists. The painting remains a primary example of Moreau's ability to blend classical themes with a personal, imaginative vision, resulting in a work that invites contemplation rather than immediate narrative clarity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/symbolic-head-odilon-redon\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eSymbolic Head - Odilon Redon — Odilon Redon\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-peacock-skirt-aubrey-beardsley\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Peacock Skirt - Aubrey Beardsley — Aubrey Beardsley\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Gustave Moreau","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58573315080527,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58573422690639,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58573422723407,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58573422756175,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58573422788943,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58573422821711,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58573422854479,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58573422887247,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58573422920015,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58573422952783,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58573422985551,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58573423018319,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Oedipus-and-the-Sphinx_Poster_CompositorV1_1787784093928.jpg?v=1787785204","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/oedipus-and-the-sphinx-gustave-moreau","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}