Awakening 1886

Henri Fantin-Latour made this lithograph called 'Awakening' sometime in the late 19th century in France. It depicts a winged figure emerging from darkness into light. The image invites us to consider the social and cultural contexts that shaped its creation and reception. The art world of 19th-century France was governed by institutions like the Académie des Beaux-Arts, which promoted conservative artistic styles and themes. Fantin-Latour, however, aligned himself with more progressive artistic circles, like the Impressionists, who sought to challenge these norms. The print seems to draw inspiration from the Romantic movement which greatly influenced the symbolist movement. This aesthetic interest could be interpreted as a kind of awakening, a turn away from the mundane and material world toward a more spiritual and imaginative realm. To understand this artwork better, we might turn to the artist's letters and diaries. Doing so would allow us to understand Fantin-Latour's position within the artistic and social debates of his time.