The artwork “Pasiphae and the Bull” is a watercolor painting by Gustave Moreau, created between circa 1876 and 1880. This mythological painting, belonging to the Symbolism art movement, measures 51 by 26 centimeters. It is housed in the Musée National Gustave Moreau in Paris, France.
The artwork portrays a mythological scene enveloped in a dark, wooded landscape with a vivid sunset illuminating the horizon. Central to the piece is the figure of Pasiphae, depicted as a nude woman covered somewhat by a red cloak. The figure is placed in a naturalistic setting, flanked by trees and accompanied by a creature appearing to be a bull in the distance, integrating itself harmoniously into the landscape. The wistful atmosphere is accentuated by the somber colors of the forest juxtaposed against the luminescent sky, invoking the mysterious and symbolic element characteristic of Moreau’s works.
