Oedipus solves the mystery of the Sphinx
1891
In this moody Symbolist masterpiece, Franz von Stuck captures the tense standoff between Oedipus and the terrifying Sphinx. The hero, draped in classical robes, gestures confidently as he answers the monster's deadly riddle, while the half-woman, half-lion beast looms over a pile of human bones. Stuck, a master of dark mythology, uses shadow and eerie lighting to turn a famous Greek myth into a psychological thriller. It's a perfect example of how Symbolist artists loved to explore the darker, mysterious sides of human nature and ancient legends.
- Technique
- Oil painting
- Material
- Canvas
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