How Does Romanticism Respond to the French Revolution?

Romanticism evolved in response to the French Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment that followed. Rather than focus on reason and rationality to explain nature and man, Romanticism focused more on emotions and feelings to explain and portray them.

History

Romanticism is an intellectual movement that took place in the 19th century and was mostly defined by art, music, poetry, literature, and even politics. Romanticism emphasized emotion, imagination, and originality, in stark contrast to the science, reason and order that defined the Age of Enlightenment that followed the French Revolution. Romanticism was defined in part by nature and the power and uncertainty many artists felt it held.

Significance

Romanticism's response to the French Revolution is significant because it posed a stark and purposeful contrast to the attitudes that defined the Age of Enlightenment. The Enlightenment focused more on reason and rationality as the voice of authority and used science and logic to explain nature. Romanticism, on the other hand, focused more on the individual as opposed to the state and emotion above reason. The visual art and literature that came from Romanticism elevated nature to an unknown and wild entity, rather than something that is easily explained by reason.

Features

Much of the Romantic art focuses intensely on emotion and the individual's view of any particular person or landscape. Visual art was often defined by the mental state of the subject captured in one moment in time. Unlike The Enlightenment, Romanticism found parallels between animal and human behavior on an emotional level rather than a literal one. Rather than portraying art as literal and historical, Romanticists focused on imaginary subjects and exotic themes. Romanticism is about finding a way to put emotions and feelings into art, rather than a bland likeness of reality.

Benefits

The way Romanticism responded to the French Revolution most often benefited the middle class, unlike prior to the Revolution when a few elites were responsible for Enlightened thought. In fact, one of the significant characteristics of Romanticism was the equality of people, which allowed Romanticism to reach a wider range of artists. Before the French Revolution, art and thought focused on noblemen and women, politicians and one's place in society. Romanticism responded to this by focusing more on the individual such as the artist, rather than the nation or the monarchy.

Effects

Some effects of Romanticism are evident today in art and literature. In particular, Romanticism's focus on expanding the entire human experience can still be seen in modern art and literature. The focus of Romanticists on nature, primitive beings and imagination can is evident in both science-fiction literature and art. The focus of individuality and free expression of emotions had a great effect on America, most notably in the First Amendment and Jacksonian Democracy, with its focus on the common man.

Resources

• History of Romantic Artists