Pasiphae and the Bul 1880

"Pasiphae and the Bull" is an 1880 painting by the French Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau. The artwork, currently located in the Musée National Gustave Moreau in Paris, depicts the Greek myth of Pasiphae, the wife of King Minos, who fell in love with a white bull sent by Poseidon. Moreau’s work explores themes of passion, desire, and the dark side of human nature. The painting uses a dreamy and melancholic style that is characteristic of the Symbolist movement, focusing on the emotional and psychological aspects of the story over strict realism. The painting is known for its atmospheric use of color, with a predominance of warm, earthy tones, contrasted with the starkness of the nude Pasiphae and the white bull. The composition is both dynamic and enigmatic, capturing the complex emotions of the story in a visually striking manner.