Romanticism is a movement in the arts and literature which was originated in the late 18th century. Emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity and the primacy of the individual.
In Photography Romanticism is used in contrast with landscapes. Romantic landscapes celebrate the instinctive, imaginative and purity of nature. It can also evoke deep feelings of emotion and can add a deeper meaning to the images taken.
Romanticism was a reaction against the spread of industrialism, as well as a criticism of the aristocratic social and political norms. So it was then used to forward peoples attention to nature.
From the late 18th to mid-19th centuries, Romanticism was used to emphasise emotion, nature and individualism, which ended up contrasting strongly with Enlightenment due to Enlightenments focus being more on reason and universalism compared to Romanticisms which was the celebration of the individual and honouring nature.
Artwork by Thomas Gainsborough RA
John Constable
John constable created landscape paintings before they were known as a genre, One of his best pieces named Hay Wain (originally named “noon”) was painted of the River Stour in England. The Canvas used was large compared to typical landscapes at the time, This was part of Constables ‘Six-Footers’ series due to the size of the canvases used. Constables father owned the Flat ford Mill and the house you can see in the background of the landscape belonged to a neighbour Willy Lot who was said to be born in that house. John Constable was always very passionate about his paintings as he tries to paint areas or locations that he knows very well (Hay Wain being one of them) which helped to make his landscapes more meaningful and special. John Constable painted the piece using his memory and not in person with the view in his sight which makes the landscape he created even more impressive. Hay Wain was different to every other landscapes at the time especially with his use of a rough surface which allowed the textures to gain more details which made certain areas in the landscape like the water feel “real” and made the overall image look more realistic compared to other landscapes of that time period.
The Sublime
The Sublime is a feeling associated with strong emotions both positive and negative that are felt in front of nature. For example waterfalls which are typically seen as beautiful but at the same time terrifying with all the rocks protruding out the ground and the cliff which could be dangerous if anything were to ever move/fall at any time.
Edmund Buke defined sublime as an “an artistic effect productive of the strongest emotion the mind is capable of feeling”. Which basically is describing how our minds determine the feelings towards images, for sublime images (specifically landscapes) typically the mind would find the image both pleasing to look at but at the same time fearful of whatever danger could be into play.
Artwork by Alps Philip James De Loutherbourg
J.M.W Turner
J.M.W Turner is a English romantic painter who was a sublime artist, He started making sublime artwork to show his viewers the feelings of awe and wonder that he experienced when tackling the majesty of nature. His paintings (made usually with oil paintings and water colours) often included dramatic scenes, for example some of his work consists of the rough sea with boats sailing creating this amazing view of the sky and the sea but making you feel uneasy with the boats that appear to be on the tipping point of flipping over.
Landscapes is the visible features of an area of land which is often seen for their aesthetic appeal, This can be areas like forests, rivers, cities skylines, mountains and anything that includes a wide view and natural elements can be considered as a Landscape. Landscapes started to become emerged in the western culture with the growth of the natural world which was sparked by the renaissance around in the 16th century. And by the 17th century the classical landscape was introduced, these landscapes were influenced by classical antiquity and were thought to provide an ideal landscape to think of Arcadia which is a legendary place in ancient Greece which is well known for its quiet pastoral beauty.
Artwork by George Mullins
Landscapes then had a sudden rise in the late 18th century to 19th century, this was because the industrial revolution was starting to alter the traditions of rural life. Which then prompted people to move away from more classic and idealised landscapes and shift their focus into creating landscapes which were more focused on directly nature which is a practice known as plein air painting. This new focus on landscapes ended up revealing a new generation of painters which would introduce their own techniques to landscape paintings.
Artwork by Vincent van Gogh
Landscape Photography was introduced in the 19th century and the earliest known photo taken of a landscape was between the years 1826 and 1827. It was a urban landscape photo taking by a French inventor by the name of Nicephore Niepce who was also the first person to make a permanent photographic image with the camera obscura. This first landscape image would then continue to shape the future of Landscape Photography to what it has now become today where it is now more advanced and more detailed thanks to modern technologies and innovations.
Often capital the theory, practice, and style of the romantic art ,music, and literature of the late 18th century and the early 198th centuries, usually opposed to classicism. Also is romantic attitudes, ideals or qualities. Also, the movement of art and literature.
What was Romanticism a reaction against?
Romanticism grew due to the reaction to the effects of the social transformation caused by the Revolution. It was against the industrial revolution because the movement idealized nature, emotion, and individualism, but the ideas clashed with the rapid changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution.
Enlightenment
It started in 1685 and ended in 1815. Enlightenment, is a European intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries in which ideas concerning God, reason, nature, and humanity were synthesized into a worldview that gained wide assent in the West and that instigated revolutionary developments in art, philosophy, and politics.
How did the Industrial Revolution have an impact on Romanticism?
The Industrial Revolution had an impact on the Romantic movement, shaping its themes, concerns, and artistic expressions. The loss of connection with nature and the critique of industrial capitalism all influenced the works of Romantic poets and artists.
John Constable
John Constable (11 June 1776 – 31 March 1837) was an English landscape painter in the Romantic tradition. He was born in Suffolk, he is known for revolutionising the genre of landscape painting with his pictures of Dedham Vale, the area surrounding his home – now known as “Constable Country” – which he invested with an intensity of devotion. “I should paint my own places best”, he wrote to his friend John Fisher in 1821, “painting is but another word for feeling”.
Constable’s most famous painting includes The Hay Wain (1821). Even though his paintings are now amongst the most popular and valuable in British art, he was never financially successful. He was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts (RAA) at the age of 52. His work was accessible in France, where he sold more than in his native England and inspired the Barbizon school.
The Hay Wain (1821)
Notes
Classical landscapes were made to be special and legendary due to arcadia in Greece, this is due to ancient Greek.
Loneliest subjects, meaning it wasn’t seen as a genre. Landscape painted on a large canvas unlike other paintings. The Hay wain has farmers, clouds, features of nature. The rough texture will capture nature so you could feel it. Landscapes are meant to be classical. legendary not mundane. The Hay Wain used to be called Noon. In the Hay-Wain you don’t see the workers faces.
The Machines were taken taking jobs away in the countryside.
Constable love these paintings. Constable has created a fiction.
Romanticism Examples
What Is The Sublime?
A theory which was developed by Edmund Burke in the mid eighteenth century, where he defined sublime art as ‘art that refers to a greatness beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement or imitation‘. John Martin. The Great Day of His Wrath (1851–3) Tate. In the “sublime”, in the sublime ‘vast and big horizons, towering mountains, and plunging chasm‘.
Sublime Examples
Edmund Burke
A famous quote he said was ‘The truly sublime is always easy. and always natural’.
This quote suggests that the sublime is dangerous and its full of terror and it easy to be surrounded by nature. Its also where a fear is in place of a sense of well-being and security.
How Are Sublime Landscapes Depicted?
Edmund Burke said that the sublime from the beautiful for its capacity to evoke intense emotions and inspire awe through experiences of nature’s vastness. it also includes vast horizons, towering mountains, and plunging chasms.
J.M.W Turner
J.M.W Turner was an important figure for the romantic movement, which was from the 18th to 19th century. His work was important during these times . He achieved these goals by painting intense contrasts of extreme light and dull clouds with energetic brushstrokes. He created man oil paintings and watercolours which illustrating the compelling forces which also supplied as settings for historical and modern dramas. He caught events such as the slow creep of glaciers in the Alps, the immediate fall of an avalanche and the swell of the ocean. Human transition is presented as well, with images of steamships and other suggestions of industry building the predominant machine age.
What does “landscape” mean? In art, “landscape” refers to a genre that depicts scenes of nature, including natural scenery like mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, often showing the relationship between humans and nature. The term can also apply to depictions of rural or natural settings in visual art, where nature is the central subject.
When did landscape emerge as a genre in Western culture? Landscape as a distinct genre began to emerge in Western culture during the Renaissance period (14th-17th centuries), but it wasn’t yet considered a standalone genre. Initially, landscapes were often part of religious or historical paintings, serving as backgrounds. It wasn’t until the 17th century, particularly in the Netherlands, that landscape painting started to gain recognition as an independent genre, moving away from religious themes.
When did classical landscapes emerge as a genre? Classical landscapes, influenced by Ancient Greek and Roman ideals, began to take shape during the 16th and 17th centuries. The classical landscape was rooted in a sense of harmony, balance, and idealized nature. It was during the Baroque period (1600-1750) that the classical landscape genre reached its peak with artists like Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin, whose works often depicted idealized, calm, and peaceful rural scenes.
What prompted the rise of Landscape Art during the late 18th/19th century? The rise of landscape art in the late 18th and 19th centuries can be attributed to several cultural, social, and intellectual shifts:
The Enlightenment: Intellectual movements in Europe emphasized reason, science, and the study of nature, leading to a greater appreciation of the natural world.
Romanticism: The Romantic movement (late 18th–mid 19th century) glorified nature as a source of beauty, mystery, and emotional expression, which spurred an increase in landscape painting.
Industrial Revolution: As the Industrial Revolution began transforming urban environments, artists began to seek solace and inspiration in nature, reflecting on the contrast between industrialization and the natural world.
Tourism and the Grand Tour: Wealthy Europeans, especially the English, traveled across Europe and visited scenic areas, which led to an increased demand for landscape art as souvenirs.
Scientific Exploration: Advancements in exploration and natural sciences prompted interest in documenting the natural environment, inspiring both artists and photographers.
When did landscape photography originate? Landscape photography began in the mid-19th century, around the 1830s and 1840s. One of the earliest pioneers of landscape photography was Hill and Adamson, who began working in Scotland in the 1840s. The first significant strides in landscape photography are also attributed to photographers like Carleton Watkins and Ansel Adams, especially in the United States, where the natural beauty of the western states was captured. The invention of the daguerreotype in 1839, followed by advancements in photographic technology, made it possible to capture detailed, realistic images of nature.
Landscape photography, often called landscape photos, captures the different areas of our world. These can be huge and endless or tiny and detailed. While landscape photos usually highlight the beauty of nature, they can also showcase human-made structures or changes in the environment.
When did landscape emerge as a genre in western culture?
After the Roman Empire collapsed, the practice of showing untouched landscapes faded away. Instead, landscapes were mostly used as backgrounds for religious and human figures. This way of thinking lasted until the 16th century, when artists started to appreciate landscapes as important subjects on their own.
When did classical landscapes emerge as a genre?
In the 17th century, the classical landscape emerged. These landscapes drew inspiration from ancient times and aimed to depict an idealized version of nature, reminiscent of Arcadia, a mythical region in ancient Greece famous for its serene and beautiful countryside.
What prompted the rise of Landscape Art during the late 18th / 19th century?
Religious painting saw a drop in popularity across Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries. This decline, along with the rise of Romanticism, which focused on feelings, personal expression, and celebrating nature helped landscapes become a favourite subject in art, a trend that remains strong today.
When did landscape photography originate?
The first known landscape photograph dates back to between 1826 and 1827. The photo was an urban scene captured by a French inventor named Nicephore Niepce.
The photograph in question
John Constable
John Constable RA (June 11, 1776 – March 31, 1837) was a famous English landscape painter who was part of the Romantic movement. He was born in Suffolk and is best recognized for changing the way landscape painting was done. His works often depicted Dedham Vale, the region around his home, which is now referred to as “Constable Country.” He had a deep love for this area. In a letter to his friend John Fisher in 1821, he expressed, “I should paint my own places best,” emphasizing that painting is really about expressing feelings.
The Hay Wain was voted Britain’s second greatest masterpiece in 2021, its bicentennial year
Romanticism was first recognized as a style in literary criticism around 1800, but it really took off as an artistic movement in France and Britain during the early 1800s and continued to thrive until about the middle of the century. This movement focused on imagination and feelings, arising as a reaction to the disappointment with Enlightenment ideals of reason and structure that followed the French Revolution in 1789.
Romanticism examples
Fact file about romanticism
Romanticism is difficult to define in words.
Romanticism introduced the Idea of drama.
Romanticism was pro-nature.
Romanticism is not the same as romance.
Romanticism gave rise to the importance of plain air painting.
Romanticism focused on capturing emotion rather than a realistic portrayal of the model.
How did the industrial revolution have an impact on Romanticism
The Industrial Revolution greatly influenced the Romantic movement, affecting its themes, worries, and artistic styles. The disconnection from nature, the isolating effects of city life, and the criticism of industrial capitalism all played a significant role in the creations of Romantic poets and artists.
The Sublime
The term sublime refers to art/photography that has the capability to terrify or overwhelm the viewer. Edmund Burke asserts that the feelings of the sublime are triggered by extremes – vastness, extreme height, difficulty, darkness or excessive light.
“Whatever is fitted in any sort to excite the ideas of pain, and danger, that is to say, whatever is in any sort terrible, or is conversant about terrible objects, or operates in a manner analogous to terror, is a source of the sublime; that is, it is productive of the strongest emotion which the mind is capable of feeling.”
The Sublime examples
JMW Turner
Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 1775 – 19 December 1851), known in his time as William Turner, was an English Romantic painter, printmaker and watercolourist. He is known for his expressive colouring, imaginative landscapes and turbulent, often violent marine paintings. He left behind more than 550 oil paintings, 2,000 watercolours, and 30,000 works on paper. He was championed by the leading English art critic John Ruskin from 1840, and is today regarded as having elevated landscape painting to an eminence rivalling history painting.
John Constable
John Constable (11 June 1776 – 31 March 1837) was an English landscape painter in the Romantic tradition. Born in Suffolk, he is known principally for revolutionising the genre of landscape painting with his pictures of Dedham Vale, the area surrounding his home – now known as “Constable Country” – which he invested with an intensity of affection. “I should paint my own places best”, he wrote to his friend John Fisher in 1821, “painting is but another word for feeling”.
Constable’s most famous paintings include Wivenhoe Park (1816), Dedham Vale (1828) and The Hay Wain (1821). Although his paintings are now among the most popular and valuable in British art, he was never financially successful. He was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts at the age of 52. His work was embraced in France, where he sold more than in his native England and inspired the Barbizon school.
What does Landscape mean? A landscape is the visible features of an area of land, its landforms, and how they integrate with natural or human-made features, often considered in terms of their aesthetic appeal.
When did landscape emerge as a genre in western culture? After the fall of the Roman Empire, the tradition of depicting pure landscapes declined, and the landscape was seen only as a setting for religious and figural scenes. This tradition continued until the 16th century when artists began to view the landscape as a subject in its own right.
When did classical landscapes emerge as a genre? In the 17th century the classical landscape was born. These landscapes were influenced by classical antiquity and sought to illustrate an ideal landscape recalling Arcadia, a legendary place in ancient Greece known for its quiet pastoral beauty.
What prompted the rise of Landscape Art during the late 18th / 19th century? religious painting declined throughout the rest of Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. That fact, combined with a new Romanticism — which emphasized emotion, individualism, and the glorification of nature — promoted landscapes to the well-loved place in art which they continue to hold today
When did landscape photography originate? According to records, the earliest known evidence of a landscape photograph was taken between the years of 1826 and 1827. It was an urban landscape photo taken by a French inventor by the name of Nicephore Niepce.
Romanticism was a cultural movement that emerged in the late 18th century, emphasizing emotion, imagination and the beauty of nature. It celebrated individualism and intuition, often challenging the rational ideals of the Enlightenment. Romanticism sought to express the deep and mysterious aspects of human experience and the natural world. The ideals of Romanticism emphasise the beauty and power of nature, portraying it as wild and sublime. While exploring the supernatural, Romantics also rebel against societal norms and industrialisation. The Enlightenment was an intellectual and cultural movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, science, individual rights and scepticism of traditional authority. Romanticism was a reaction against this as well as the Industrial Revolution. Romantic thinkers saw the Enlightenment as cold and dehumanizing with the Industrial Revolution having a major impact on Romanticism by fuelling its emphasis on nature, emotion and individualism. As industrialisation led to rapid urbanization and harsh working conditions, many Romantics reacted by idealising nature and rural life.
John Constable
John Constable who lived in 1776-1837 was an English landscape painter in the Romantic tradition. Born in Suffolk, he is known for revolutionising the genre of landscape painting with his pictures of Dedham Vale, the area surrounding his home which he invested with an intensity of affection. Although his paintings are now among the most popular and valuable in British art, he was never financially successful. His work was embraced in France, where he sold more than in England.‘The Cornfield’, one of Constable’s most famous painting, is seen on the right. The painting may appear to be traditional and mundane to the modern eye, however back when it was created it was seen as it was new and radical with Constable being ambitious. This painting is personal to him, especially with his father being a land owner, and therefore captures a nostalgic memory of the place. Landscapes were not a popular concept at the time with this considered to be a classical landscape despite the painting having a lack of finish which contrasted the usual strive for perfection of this era. Historically, this painting lies in a time of economic stresses and unemployment among workers with the land being fraught thanks to tension from industrial revolution. The painting, however, is removed from this tension with Constable managing to create beauty in a low moment while building a subtle political undercurrent with the farmers in the back being one with nature. In terms of composition, area of the canvas is given over to the sky with an arch across the foreground leading to parts of the painting. The red accents balance out the green colours with the rough textures of the painting allowing for viewers to really be able to feel the water.
What is The Sublime?
The sublime is a concept in aesthetics that refers to experiences that evoke both awe and terror, often in the face of nature’s vastness or power. It was popularised by philosophers like Edmund Burke who describes the sublime as something that creates a sense of overwhelming danger, stating ‘whatever is fitted in any sort to excite the ideas of pain and danger, that is to say, whatever is in any sort terrible, or is conversant about terrible objects, or operates in a manner analogous to terror, is a source of the sublime’. In terms of landscapes, the sublime is often depicted through untamed and dramatic scenery like towering mountains, deep chasms, violent storms and endless deserts. These places inspire both fear and admiration, making humans feel small compared to the immensity of nature. Romantic painters captured this feeling by portraying lone figures standing before wild landscapes to emphasise the contrast between human fragility and nature’s overwhelming power. An avalanche, for example, can be dangerous and uncontrollable yet also possess a certain beauty that captivates the human mind. The ocean is a perfect example of the sublime with it being deep and unknowable, evoking both fascination and fear. Calm seas can be peaceful and beautiful, but a stormy ocean with crashing waves and howling winds can make people feel powerless before its might. The ocean’s ability to inspire both awe and fear captures the essence of the sublime.
Joseph Mallord William Turner
Joseph Mallord William Turner was a leading figure in the Romantic movement of the late 18th century through to the 19th. For Turner, psychological expression and the liberation of the imagination were of importance in his work. He achieved these goals by painting extreme contrasts of intense light and gloomy clouds with energetic brushstrokes. He created many oil paintings and watercolours portraying compelling forces which also served as settings for historical and modern dramas. He captured events such as the slow creep of glaciers in the Alps, the sudden fall of an avalanche and the swell of the ocean. Human transition is presented also, with images of steamships and other suggestions of industry building the ascendant machine age.
Romanticism was an art and literary movement from the late 1700s to the 1800s. It pushed back against logic and reason, focusing instead on emotions, nature, and personal expression. It aimed to capture deep feelings and the wild beauty of the world.
Facts About Romanticism
Who: Artists like J.M.W. Turner and John Constable, poets like William Wordsworth, and composers like Beethoven.
What: A movement that highlighted emotion, imagination, and nature.
Where: Started in Europe, mainly in Germany, Britain, and France, then spread.
When: Late 18th to mid-19th century.
How: Expressed through paintings, poetry, and music that captured the power of nature and human emotions.
Why: It was a reaction to the Industrial Revolution and the cold, logical focus of the Enlightenment.
The Sublime
The Sublime is all about the overwhelming power of nature, huge mountains, wild storms, or endless oceans that make people feel tiny. Romantic artists loved showing this contrast between human life and nature’s vastness.
J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851)
Turner painted with bold colors and light to show nature’s energy.
Famous for works like The Fighting Temeraire and Rain, Steam, and Speed.
His art often captured The Sublime, showing wild seas and dramatic skies.
John Constable (1776–1837)
Constable painted calm, detailed scenes of the countryside.
Known for The Hay Wain and Dedham Vale, celebrating everyday rural life.
His work was more peaceful compared to Turner’s dramatic style.
Key Words and Terms
The Sublime: The feeling of awe when facing nature’s power.
Emotion: A big part of Romantic art, often shown in dramatic scenes.
Nature: A main theme, focusing on its beauty and unpredictability.
Imagination: Valued over strict logic and reason.
Individualism: Celebrating personal expression and feelings.
Picturesque: The charm of irregular, natural scenery.
Dramatic Light: Used by Turner to create intense moods.
Atmospheric Perspective: A technique to add depth and feeling.
Today, landscape photography often follows Romantic ideals, capturing nature’s drama and beauty, much like Turner and Constable did in their paintings.
Notes:
was not a very popular genre in this period of time, very large painting of a store river where john constable grew up at noon – before it was called The Hay Wain. Constables father was landowner, a lot of economic stress and relation to the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution presumed to have had taken workers away. Because landscape were not very popular at the time, this time of very large painting gave a shock factor in which wasn’t very expected. No sense of nature to be thought in this sense of moment, an expression of his own personal experiences. The use of nature now has meaning for the advancement into large cities which many do not have much experience with nature, this made his artwork stand out. The texture of the photos made it so you could feel the rivers and foliage, in which his artwork relates to his experiences in growing up with a lot of nature and his actual art skills to replicate this.
Romanticism is an artistic movement that emerged in the late 18th century and flourished throughout the 19th century. It was a reaction against the rationalism and order of the Enlightenment and the industrialization of society, emphasizing emotion, imagination, and nature as the true sources of beauty and truth.
Key Characteristics of Romanticism:
Emotion Over Reason – Feelings, passion, and intuition were valued more than logic and rational thought.
Imagination & Creativity – Romantic artists and writers sought to explore new, fantastical ideas rather than adhere to traditional structures.
Nature & The Sublime – The natural world was seen as a place of spiritual renewal, beauty, and power, often depicted as wild, untamed, and awe-inspiring.
Individualism & Rebellion – Romanticism celebrated the unique individual, particularly those who defied societal expectations and pursued their own path.
Mysticism & The Supernatural – Interest in folklore, the occult, and the unknown played a significant role in Romantic literature and art.
Melancholy & Nostalgia – A longing for the past, lost love, or unfulfilled dreams was a recurring theme in Romantic works.
Idealism & Transcendence – Many Romantic thinkers believed in the pursuit of higher truths, often through artistic expression, dreams, or personal introspection.
What was Romanticism a reaction against?
The Enlightenment (18th Century Rationalism)
The Enlightenment emphasized reason, logic, science, and order, promoting structured thought and empirical evidence.
Romanticism rejected this, believing that emotion, imagination, and intuition were just as important as reason.
While the Enlightenment valued universal truths, Romanticism focused on individual experience and personal truths.
2. The Industrial Revolution (18th–19th Century)
The rise of industrialization and urbanization led to crowded cities, pollution, and a shift away from rural life.
Romanticism responded with a nostalgia for nature, portraying it as pure, spiritual, and untainted by human corruption.
Many Romantic thinkers opposed the dehumanization of workers in factories and celebrated the individual over machines.
3. Neoclassicism & Structured Art
Neoclassicism, which dominated the 18th century, emphasized order, harmony, and rationality in art and literature.
Romanticism rejected strict forms and celebrated experimentation, spontaneity, and emotional expression.
4. Political & Social Order (Revolutions & Rebellion)
Romanticism was influenced by the French Revolution (1789), which symbolized the power of individual freedom and rebellion.
Many Romantics championed the rights of the individual and celebrated outcasts, revolutionaries, and misunderstood heroes.
Figures like the Byronic Hero (dark, rebellious, passionate characters) emerged as symbols of Romantic defiance.
5. Scientific Rationalism & Materialism
The scientific advancements of the 18th and 19th centuries prioritized materialism and mechanistic worldviews.
Romantics, however, explored spirituality, mysticism, and the supernatural, believing in forces beyond human understanding.
Enlightenment
The Enlightenment (1685–1815)
The Enlightenment was an intellectual and cultural movement that emphasized reason, logic, science, and individual rights over tradition, superstition, and religious dogma. It emerged in the late 17th century and peaked in the 18th century, influencing politics, philosophy, science, and society.
Key Ideas of the Enlightenment:
Reason Over Tradition: Knowledge should be based on rational thought and empirical evidence, not religious faith or inherited beliefs.
Scientific Progress: The Scientific Revolution fueled belief in human ability to understand and control the natural world through observation and experimentation.
Skepticism of Authority: Many Enlightenment thinkers questioned monarchy, aristocracy, and the Church, advocating for political reform.
Individual Rights & Freedom: Thinkers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued for natural rights, democracy, and self-government.
Separation of Church and State: Many Enlightenment thinkers promoted religious tolerance and secular governance.
Optimism & Progress: There was a strong belief that humanity could improve through education, science, and reason.
Key Figures of the Enlightenment:
John Locke – Advocated for natural rights (life, liberty, property) and government by consent.
Voltaire – Criticized religious intolerance and promoted freedom of speech.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Explored democracy and the idea of the “general will.”
Montesquieu – Proposed separation of powers in government.
Immanuel Kant – Defined the Enlightenment as “daring to know” (Sapere aude), encouraging intellectual independence.
Impact of the Enlightenment:
Influenced Revolutions – Inspired the American Revolution (1776) and French Revolution (1789) by promoting democracy and human rights.
Shaped Modern Democracy – Ideas about constitutional government, checks and balances, and civil liberties remain influential today.
Advanced Science & Secularism – Led to the decline of religious influence in politics and an increase in scientific thinking.
The Sublime
The sublime is a concept in art, literature, and philosophy that refers to experiences that evoke awe, terror, or overwhelming beauty, often associated with nature’s power and human insignificance. It was a key idea in Romanticism, emphasizing emotions beyond ordinary perception—something vast, infinite, or beyond human control.
J.M.W Turner
Edmund Burke on the Sublime
Edmund Burke, in his 1757 work A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful, defined the sublime as something that provokes “the strongest emotion which the mind is capable of feeling.” He argued that the sublime is linked to feelings of terror and awe, especially when encountering vast, powerful, or obscure things.
Quote from Burke: “Whatever is fitted in any sort to excite the ideas of pain and danger, that is to say, whatever is in any sort terrible, or is conversant about terrible objects, or operates in a manner analogous to terror, is a source of the sublime.”
Key Aspects of the Sublime:
Terror & Awe – The feeling of being overwhelmed by something vast or powerful (e.g., storms, mountains, or the night sky).
Nature’s Power – The sublime is often found in untamed landscapes like waterfalls, thunderstorms, and vast oceans.
Obscurity & Mystery – The unknown or the infinite can evoke a sense of the sublime, such as deep space or dark forests.
Contrast with Beauty – Unlike beauty, which is harmonious and pleasing, the sublime is intense, sometimes even terrifying.
Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Romanticism
The Industrial Revolution (late 18th – 19th century) dramatically transformed society through urbanization, mechanization, and technological advancements. While it brought progress, it also led to pollution, harsh working conditions, and a loss of connection to nature. Romanticism emerged as a reaction to these changes, emphasizing emotion, nature, and individualism in opposition to industrialization’s focus on rationalism, efficiency, and mass production.
Romantic Artists
John Constable (1776–1837) – The Beauty of Rural England
Style: Naturalistic landscapes, soft colour palettes, and emotional connection to the countryside.
Themes: Romanticized rural life, nostalgia for pre-industrial England, and a deep appreciation for nature.
Famous Works:
The Hay Wain (1821) – A peaceful, idyllic scene of a rural wagon crossing a river, representing a simpler life untouched by industrialization.
Wivenhoe Park (1816) – A lush, serene depiction of an English estate, emphasizing the harmony of nature.
How He Embodied Romanticism: Constable’s paintings reject urbanization and celebrate the emotional and spiritual power of nature, reflecting the Romantic ideal that the countryside was pure and unspoiled.
Wivenhoe Park- John Constable
J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851) – The Power and Drama of Nature
Style: Dramatic lighting, expressive brushwork, and intense colour contrasts.
Themes: The sublime in nature, the overwhelming force of storms, seas, and industrialization’s impact on the world.
Famous Works:
The Fighting Temeraire (1839) – A nostalgic farewell to an old warship being towed by a modern steam-powered boat, symbolizing the transition from the past to the industrial age.
Rain, Steam and Speed (1844) – A blurred, powerful depiction of a steam locomotive racing through the landscape, capturing the awe and terror of technological progress.
How He Embodied Romanticism: Turner’s work focused on the power of nature and the sublime, showing humanity’s smallness in the face of storms, fire, and the vast ocean. His later works blurred the lines between realism and impressionism, emphasizing feeling over precision.
3. Caspar David Friedrich (1774–1840) – The Mysticism of Nature
Style: Melancholic, atmospheric landscapes with solitary figures.
Themes: The spiritual and mystical connection between man and nature, solitude, and contemplation.
Famous Works:
Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog (1818) – A lone figure stands atop a misty mountain, gazing at the vast landscape, symbolizing human insignificance and self-reflection.
The Abbey in the Oakwood (1809–1810) – Ruins of a Gothic church stand among barren trees, evoking themes of death, decay, and mystery.
How He Embodied Romanticism: Friedrich’s paintings convey the mystical and transcendent qualities of nature, aligning with Romanticism’s fascination with emotion and the unknown.
4. Francisco Goya (1746–1828) – Dark Romanticism & Human Emotion
Style: Dramatic, often dark and nightmarish imagery with emotional intensity.
Themes: The horrors of war, human suffering, madness, and the supernatural.
Famous Works:
The Third of May 1808 (1814) – A powerful depiction of Spanish civilians being executed by French soldiers, showing the brutality of war.
Saturn Devouring His Son (1820–1823) – A disturbing, nightmarish image of the god Saturn eating his child, reflecting madness and horror.
Hay Wain by John Constable
“I shall endeavor to get a pure and unaffected manner of representing the scenes that may employ me… there is room enough for a natural painter. The great vice of the present day is bravura, an attempt to do something beyond the truth.”
John Constable
Artist
John Constable
Year Painted
1821
Genre
Landscape Painting
Period
Romanticism
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
51.2 x 72.8 in
Where it’s kept
National Gallery, London
Notes- from video
-Landscape wasn’t a popular art style- ambitious
-Hay Wain 6 ft landscape (1821)
-River where he grew up farmers in field
-Father was a land owner, came from well to do family
-Machines were taking employment away, losing jobs in countryside ( industrial revolution)
-Painting relaxed/ romanticized
-Landscapes were usually people doing something legendry unlike constables landscape that was mundane
-He deliberately created rough texture- to feel the nature
key terms associated with romanticism
•Emotion – Romanticism emphasized deep, raw emotions over logic, celebrating feelings as the truest form of human experience.
•Imagination – The movement valued imagination as a means of transcending reality and exploring new artistic and intellectual possibilities.
•Nature – Romanticists saw nature as a source of inspiration, beauty, and spiritual renewal, often portraying it as a powerful and untamed force.
•Sublime – The concept of the sublime captured the awe-inspiring and sometimes terrifying aspects of nature and human experience.
•Individualism – Romanticism championed the unique individual, often portraying solitary heroes who defied societal norms.
•Rebellion – Many Romantic works celebrated defiance against authority, embracing revolution and personal freedom.
•Freedom – Personal and artistic freedom were central, with Romanticists rejecting rigid structures in favor of self-expression.
•Passion – Love, desire, and intense emotional experiences were key themes, often explored in dramatic and tragic narratives.
•Melancholy – A sense of longing, loss, and nostalgia permeated much of Romantic art and literature, adding depth to its themes.
•Mysticism – The supernatural, folklore, and mystical experiences were often woven into Romantic works to explore the unknown.
•Transcendence – Romanticism sought to elevate human experience beyond the mundane, reaching for deeper truths and higher states of being.
•Idealism – Romantic thinkers often pursued ideals of beauty, truth, and love, even in the face of harsh realities.
•Beauty – The movement emphasized beauty in all its forms, whether in nature, art, or the human spirit.
•Spirituality – Romanticism embraced a deeply personal and often unconventional spirituality, rejecting institutionalized religion.
•Intuition – Instinct and feeling were valued over reason, with artists and writers trusting their inner voice.
Dreams – Dreams and the unconscious mind were seen as gateways to deeper truths, influencing much of Romantic poetry and art.
