5.8 - Romanticism

The Rise of Romanticism: A Reaction to Enlightenment Rationalism

Background:

• The Enlightenment emphasized rationalism and scientific thought, dominating European intellectual life in the 18th century. Enlightenment thinkers believed in using logic and reason to understand the world, often disregarding emotions and intuition.

• However, by the end of the 18th century, the rise of Romanticism marked a shift in European thought, emphasizing emotions, intuition, and imagination as essential aspects of human experience.

Key Concepts of Romanticism:

• Romanticism served as a counterbalance to the Enlightenment by promoting alternative ways of understanding the world, focusing on individualism, emotion, and the glory of human uniqueness.

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an Enlightenment thinker, is often seen as a precursor to Romanticism. Rousseau emphasized feelings and passion, sometimes placing them above reason. He believed that God was accessible through personal affections rather than strict rationality, making him a key figure in the development of Romantic thought.

Romanticism in the Arts:

• Literature:

  • Romantic writers often focused on nationalism and cultural identity. For example, the Grimm Brothers collected and published German fairy tales, which played a role in fostering German national pride.

  • Romantic poets like William Wordsworth celebrated nature, believing that humans had a mystical connection to the natural world. Wordsworth's poetry broke away from classical forms, using ordinary language to elevate simple objects and experiences.

• Visual Arts:

  • Romantic visual artists emphasized that art should reflect the inner feelings of the artist, showcasing emotion, warmth, and movement. This was a clear departure from the restraint and symmetry of Neoclassicism.

  • A prime example is Caspar David Friedrich's painting "Wanderer above a Sea of Fog," which captures the mystical relationship between the individual and nature, evoking a sense of awe and contemplation.

• Music:

  • Ludwig van Beethoven was a key figure in Romantic music. While his early work reflected the classical traditions of his time, by 1804, he began composing music that expressed deep emotions like fear, rapture, pain, and longing, aligning with the Romantic spirit.

Romanticism and Religion:

• Romanticism also influenced religious movements, such as the rise of Methodism in England, founded by John Wesley. Wesley's personal spiritual experience, where he felt his heart "strangely warmed," led him to preach a more emotional and personal relationship with God, emphasizing the importance of a conversion experience as a sign of true faith.

• The Methodist movement spread rapidly across England, Europe, and eventually America, showcasing the emotional and spiritual revival characteristic of Romanticism.