The Fragrance of the Sacred: Mysticism and Olfactory Aesthetics in French Symbolist Art
Publication information:
Abstract
The spiritual revival of late 19th century France gave rise to what Jules Bois described as “little religions”—an intricate web of esoteric, mystical, and occultist practices that profoundly shaped artistic circles. Symbolist artists sought to transcend traditional representation through synaesthesia, yet the role of olfaction in their exploration of alternative spiritualities remains overlooked. This paper examines scent as a threshold between the material and the sacred, an active agent of spiritual transition. Figures like Papus emphasized its spiritual potency, influencing artists such as Ranson and Delville. Scent thus became both an artistic tool and a vehicle for mystical experience.
Presenter Biography
Jasmine Laraki is a doctoral candidate in Art History at Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, co-supervised in Comparative Literature at Université Libre de Bruxelles. Her research explores the intersections of Symbolist art, occultism, and olfactive culture, with a particular focus on the spiritual significance of scent in artistic practice.