The Seeress of Prevorst in High Sleep

The painter Gabriel Max may be regarded as one of the founders of symbolism even in the wider European context. His early paintings strongly resonate with the late romanticism tradition. Over time, dim colours as well as certain intangibility of painting were typical of Max. He pursued religious themes already in his early paintings but gradually it became more subjective and peculiar. Max notices the moments of ecstasy and visions, his female figures are pale, ill, often on the brink of collapse, or even already dead. Closed or narrowed eyes are often motifs symbolising the inner spiritual aspects of human existence.