La prophétesse Libuse

La prophétesse Libuse — Karel Mašek, 1893

This painting is part of the Symbolist exhibition. Symbolism is only kinda a movement: it shows up in a lot of cultures in different ways, but the common thread is artists attempting to explore spiritual or intangible things — dreams, death, one’s inner life, sacred mysteries, that sort of thing.

According to Wikipedia, Libuše / Libussa / Libushe / Lubossa is a figure from Czech mythology. One of three magical sisters, she was gifted with wisdom and the power to foretell the future.

I’m really digging this piece! It honestly wouldn’t look out of place in the 1970s fantasy art magazines I grew up with. Which may tell you where they got their inspiration.