Silence of the Forest 1885

Arnold Böcklin painted 'Silence of the Forest' in oil on wood, but the date is unknown. Böcklin was a Swiss symbolist painter whose work suggests a fascination with mythology, mortality and the uncanny. Take a moment to consider the unicorn, a prominent symbol in Böcklin’s work. During the medieval period, the unicorn was regarded as a symbol of purity, grace, and innocence. It was often associated with the divine and was believed to possess magical powers. During the Renaissance, the unicorn was often depicted in tapestries, paintings, and other works of art as a symbol of courtly love and virtue. Considering the history of the unicorn symbol, what might the pairing of beast and rider in this forest scene suggest? Perhaps a desire to reconnect to a pre-industrial world? Or to escape from rational scientific materialism into a world of fantasy? As historians, we must understand the role of art in creating meaning that is always contingent on social and institutional contexts.