How did French Decadent Symbolist poetry influence Edvard Munch’s ideas about art?

French Decadent Symbolist poetry, introduced to Edvard Munch by his friend the Danish poet Emanuel Goldstein, played a pivotal role in shaping his artistic philosophy. These writers sought to liberate art and literature from the materialistic concerns of industrialized society, a goal that resonated deeply with Munch.1

Influenced by this movement, Munch developed a new philosophy of art centered on a pantheistic view of sexuality. He came to perceive sexual union not merely as a personal act, but as a universal, life-creating force that links human existence to the broader, ongoing cycles of nature. This shift allowed him to move beyond the naturalism of his early career toward an approach that prioritized the expression of individual emotional experience, a core tenet of Symbolism. By embracing these ideas, Munch moved toward capturing inner visions rather than simply depicting external nature, ultimately influencing the development of Expressionism.12