Art: Romanticism Flashcards
Romanticism
A cultural movement of the late 18th and 19th centuries that embraced emotion, imagination, individuality, nature, the supernatural, and rebellion against societal norms in various forms of art, including painting, sculpture, literature, and music.
Enlightenment vs. Romanticism: Enlightenment Approach to Nature
The Enlightenment viewed nature as an object of study, using tools like microscopes and telescopes, aiming for quantitative understanding through objective, replicable methods.
Enlightenment vs. Romanticism: Romantic Approach to Nature
The Romantic view of nature was emotional and spiritual, emphasizing immersion in nature’s beauty and power, often focusing on the sublime, a combination of awe, terror, and excitement.
Romanticism in Art: Themes and Characteristics
Romantic art emphasized dramatic, bold colors, emotional intensity, and depictions of humans overwhelmed by the vastness of nature. It also explored themes like the supernatural, occult, and macabre.
Caspar David Friedrich
A Romantic artist known for landscapes where individuals are dwarfed by nature, such as “Monk by the Sea,” symbolizing nature’s spiritual and religious power.
J.M.W. Turner
A Romantic artist known for his spontaneous brushstrokes and exploration of color, depicting the clash between nature and industrialization in works like “The Shipwreck” and “Rain, Steam, and Speed.”
Théodore Géricault
Romantic artist famous for “The Raft of the Medusa,” using a pyramid-like composition to highlight human suffering and survival.
Eugène Delacroix
Romantic artist known for dramatic works like “Liberty Leading the People,” exploring themes of revolution and orientalism in works like “The Death of Sardanapalus.”
Romantic Literature: Key Themes
Romantic literature often focused on the subjective experiences and emotional extremes of characters, dealing with themes of unrequited love, trauma, and stress.
“Sturm und Drang”
A German Romantic movement meaning “Storm and Stress,” focusing on intense emotional experiences, often highlighting the internal lives of characters.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
German author of “The Sorrows of Young Werther,” an epistolary novel that inspired a wave of imitative suicides, capturing the intensity of Romantic emotion.
Walter Scott
Scottish author known for medieval novels like “Ivanhoe,” exploring themes of national identity and founding myths.
Victor Hugo
French author of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” blending individual and societal struggles in a medieval Parisian setting.
Edgar Allan Poe
Pioneer of Gothic literature and the horror genre, known for macabre tales like “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Raven.”
Mary Shelley
Author of “Frankenstein,” a cautionary tale about humanity’s obsession with technology and its unintended consequences.
Lord Byron
Romantic poet who created the “anti-hero” archetype and supported Greek independence both through poetry and action.
Romanticism in Music: Characteristics
Romantic music featured uncontrolled rhythms and passionate storytelling, expanding on classical traditions into more dramatic, emotional forms.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Composer bridging classical and Romantic styles, known for works like “Eroica Symphony” and “Symphony No. 9,” which expressed personal struggles, such as deafness.
Hector Berlioz
Composer known for programmatic music, including “Symphonie Fantastique,” which depicts a love affair descending into an opium-induced nightmare.
The Artist as Rebel
Romantic artists embraced Bohemian lifestyles, challenging societal norms, experimenting with free love, and critiquing society through their art.
The Sublime in Nature
Romanticism focused on awe-inspiring landscapes, capturing both the terror and beauty of nature’s forces, such as storms, oceans, and waterfalls.
Nationalism and Revolution in Romanticism
Romanticism was intertwined with political movements, inspiring struggles for independence and celebrating historical and mythical figures as symbols of national identity.
Legacy of Romanticism
Romanticism’s emphasis on emotion, individuality, and imagination continues to influence modern art, literature, and culture, with enduring themes like the human connection to nature and rebellion against convention.
how did romanticism change society and culture between 1815-1871
Romanticism shaped society between 1815-1871 by promoting individualism, emotional expression, and national identity, influencing art, literature, music, and politics, while inspiring revolutions, challenging social norms, and emphasizing a deep connection to nature and the sublime.
