Oedipus and the Sphinx, Gustave Moreau (1864)

Oedipus and the Sphinx, Gustave Moreau (1864) Gustave Moreau’s Oedipus and the Sphinx captures a mythic showdown steeped in tension and symbolism. In this richly detailed scene, Oedipus encounters the fearsome Sphinx—a creature from Greek mythology with a woman’s head and chest, a lion’s body, and eagle’s wings. The Sphinx blocks his path, claws grazing his chest, as she poses her infamous riddle. Oedipus, calm and composed, stares back without fear, representing the triumph of reason over chaos and the human quest to overcome fate. Moreau surrounds the pair with ornate textures and telling details, including bones and armor—reminders of the many who failed to solve the Sphinx’s challenge. Exhibited at the 1864 Paris Salon, the painting was celebrated for its intricate craftsmanship and mysterious atmosphere. Turning away from the realism popular in his day, Moreau embraced a visionary, dreamlike approach that helped lay the groundwork for the Symbolist movement. In Oedipus and the Sph