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Explore the artistic expression of Romanticism (1790-1850), a movement marked by a shared vision, individualism, and a deep connection to nature. Discover how Romantics rebelled against industrialization, glorified nature's power, and challenged Enlightenment ideals with a focus on emotions and the mystical. Dive into the era's key figures like Lord Byron and artworks encapsulating nature's fury and the supernatural realm.
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ROMANTICISM: The Artistic Expression of Liberalism
The Spirit of the Age (1790-1850) • A sense of a shared vision among the Romantics. • Early support of the French Revolution. • Rise of the individual alienation. • Dehumanization of industrialization. • Radical poetics / politics an obsessionwith violent change. • The Anti- Enlightenment?
1. Emotions! Passion! Irrationality! Anti-Spivackian?
A Growing Distrust of Reason Early19c Enlightenment Romanticism Society is good, curbing violent impulses! Civilization corrupts! • The essence of human experience is subjective and emotional. • Human knowledge is a puny thing compared to other great historical forces. • “Individual rights” are dangerous efforts at selfishness the community is more important.
The Romantic Movement • Began in the 1790s and peaked in the 1820s. • Mostly in Northern Europe, especially in Britain and Germany. • A reaction against classicism. • The “Romantic Hero:” • Greatest example was Lord Byron • Tremendously popular among the European reading public. • Youth imitated his haughtiness and rebelliousness.
Characteristics of Romanticism The Engaged & Enraged Artist: • The artist apart from society. • The artist as social critic/revolutionary. • The artist as genius.
2. The "Rugged" Individual
Characteristics of Romanticism The Individual/ The Dreamer: • Individuals have unique, endless potential. • Self-realization comes through art • Artists are the true philosophers.
3. The Power & Fury of Nature
Characteristics of Romanticism Glorification of Nature: • Peaceful, restorative qualities [an escape from industrialization and the dehumanization it creates]. • Awesome, powerful, horrifying aspects of nature. • Indifferent to the fate of humans. • Overwhelming power of nature.
Sunset After a Storm On the Coast of Sicily – Andreas Achenbach, 1853
The Wreck of the Hope (aka The Sea of Ice)Caspar David Friedrich, 1821
4.Science Can Be Dangerous!
What the Hell? • Blake's opposition to the Enlightenment was deeply rooted. He wrote in his annotations to the Laocoon "Art is the Tree of Life. Science is the Tree of Death.”Newton's theory of optics was especially offensive to Blake, who made a clear distinction between the vision of the "vegetative eye" and spiritual vision. The deistic view of God as a distant creator who played no role in daily affairs was anathema to Blake, who regularly experienced spiritual visions. He opposes his "four-fold vision" to the "single vision" of Newton, whose "natural religion" of scientific materialism he characterized as sterile. • The painting was created to convey Newton’s doubts of God and his obliviousness to God‘s creation of everything. Newton’s strict concepts on science ruled his life. Blake described that through his painting by symbolizing that Newton was stuck in the circle that he drew with his compass. Meaning that he was so wrapped up with his thoughts and ideas, he could not see reason with Blake’s ideas and thoughts about imagination to step outside of his circle. • Newton was incorporated into Blake's infernal trinity along with the Francis Bacon and John Locke.
5. The "New" Technology Is Dehumanizing
The Fighting Temeraire Tugged to Her Last Berth to be Broken Up, J.M.W. Turner, 1838
6. Romanticizing Country Life
7. The Gothic: "Romanticizing" the Middle Ages
Characteristics of Romanticism Revival of Past Styles: • Gothic & Romanesque revival. • “Neo-Gothic” architectural style. • Medieval ruins were a favorite theme for art and poetry.
Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s GroundJohn Constable, 1825
8. The Exotic, the Occult, and the Macabre!
Characteristics of Romanticism The Supernatural: • Ghosts, fairies, witches, demons. • The shadows of the mind—dreams & madness. • The romantics rejected materialism in pursuit of spiritual self-awareness. • They yearned for the unknown and the unknowable.
Cloister Cemetery in the SnowCaspar David Friedrich, 1817-1819
Mad Woman With a Mania of Envy TheodoreGericault, 1822-1823
The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the SunWilliam Blake, 1808-1810