Romanticism
Among the characteristic attitudes of Romanticism were the following: a deepened appreciation of the beauties of nature, a general exaltation of emotion over reason and of the senses over intellect, a turning in upon the self and a heightened examination of human personality and its moods and mental potentialities. Romanticism has long been associated within the landscape. In the medium of photography, the sense of romance of the landscape features it spirit in full bloom.
A fact-file about romanticism
who:
In English literature, the key figures of the Romantic movement are considered to be the group of poets including William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Keats, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley and the much older William Blake, followed later by the isolated figure of John Clare.
john Constable, the German Caspar David Friedrich, and the American Thomas Cole
what:
Romanticism has long been associated within the landscape. In the medium of photography, the sense of romance of the landscape features it spirit in full bloom. It is very hard to categorise. The very nature of Romanticism is rather uncontrollable and unpredictable.
how:
With its emphasis on the imagination and emotion, Romanticism emerged as a response to the disillusionment with the Enlightenment values of reason and order in the aftermath of the French Revolution of 1789.
where/when:
Romanticism was first defined as an aesthetic in literary criticism around 1800. It then went on to gain momentum as an artistic movement in France and Britain in the early decades of the nineteenth century and flourished until mid-century.
why:
The main idea of Romanticism is the celebration of the individual and the glorification of nature. More specifically, Romantics embrace the uniqueness of the human spirit, which they feel is reflected in and deeply connected to the untamed wildness of nature.
An explanation of what The Sublime is
In aesthetics, the sublime (from the Latin sublimes) is the quality of greatness, whether physical, moral, intellectual, metaphysical, aesthetic, spiritual, or artistic. The term especially refers to a greatness beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement, or imitation.
Theory 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
Well, then you encountered ‘The Sublime’ or at least the Romantic era version (1800-1850) of it. The Sublime is a western aesthetic concept of ‘the exalted’ of ‘beauty that is grand and dangerous’. The Sublime refers to the wild, unbounded grandeur of nature.
how did the Industrial Revolution have an impact on Romanticism?
The Industrial Revolution had a profound impact on the Romantic movement, shaping its themes, concerns, and artistic expressions. The loss of connection with nature, the alienating effects of urbanization, and the critique of industrial capitalism all influenced the works of Romantic poets and artists.
The rise of Romanticism can be seen as a literature’s backlash against the Industrial Revolution. Escaping from the crashing modernity and rise of technology, factories, and cities, Romantics focused on nature, rural life and subjectivity.
The importance of the British painters JMW Turner and John Constable
The landscape painters Turner and Constable were influential exponents of romanticism, an artistic movement of the late 1700s to mid-1800s that emphasized an emotional response to nature.
Turner, who travelled extensively, often infused his dramatic seascapes and landscapes with literary or historical allusions. Two of Britain’s greatest painters, J.M.W. Turner and John Constable were also the greatest of rivals.
Born within a year of each other Turner in 1775, Constable in 1776 – they used landscape art to reflect the changing world around them.
Individualism
Focus on the self and personal expression, valuing individual creativity over societal constraints.
Imagination
Emphasized as a powerful and transcendent faculty, often seen as more important than reason.
Nature
Nature was seen as a source of inspiration, beauty, and spiritual power, often depicted as sublime and untamed.
Sublime
A concept that refers to experiences of awe and terror in nature or art, where beauty and danger intersect.
Emotion
Emphasis on intense emotions such as passion, awe, melancholy, and longing, often in reaction to the rationalism of the Enlightenment.
The Supernatural
Interest in the mystical, the mysterious, and the irrational, including folklore, myths, and gothic elements.
The Heroic
Celebration of the individual hero, often portrayed as a misunderstood or tragic figure.
Exoticism
Fascination with distant, mysterious lands and cultures, often portrayed in art, literature, and music.
Nostalgia
A longing for the past, especially for simpler or more primitive times, often idealized.
Rebellion
Rejection of established norms, authority, and traditional conventions, including a challenge to societal, political, and artistic constraints.
Art for Art’s Sake
The idea that art should be valued for its intrinsic beauty and emotional power rather than its moral or didactic message.
Gothic
A style that blends the mysterious, eerie, and dark elements, often involving haunted landscapes or supernatural occurrences.
The Byronic Hero
A specific type of hero, derived from Lord Byron’s works, characterized by rebellion, isolation, and a troubled, tormented soul.
Sentimentality
Overwhelming emotion, often expressed in literature or visual arts, with a focus on tender, emotional moments.