“The Victorious Sphinx,” crafted by Gustave Moreau in 1886, is a watercolor artwork rooted in the Symbolism movement and falls under the mythological painting genre.
The artwork portrays a mythical scene dominated by the sphinx, a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a woman, majestically perched on a rock. She is adorned with a crown of floral elements, lending a regal grandeur to her appearance. Below her, a fallen and lifeless human form dangles, signifying the triumph of the sphinx. The composition exudes an ethereal quality, with a misty sky and a distant view of the sea enhancing the otherworldly atmosphere. The intricate details and soft color palette evoke a sense of dreamlike mysticism, central to the Symbolism movement’s ethos.
