Romanticism – Era of Emotions, Fantasy and Dark Secrets

Romanticism was a short but powerful period in art that represents a reaction to the reason and logic of the Enlightenment. The artists of the Romantic period wanted to highlight the emotional and spiritual side of people. In doing so, they began to focus on feelings, fantasy and nature, but political motifs were also used again and again. They also looked for the unexplained and the sublime. But what exactly made Romanticism so special and how did it influence art?

The beginnings of Romanticism

In art, three types of Romanticism can be distinguished, which focused on different themes and styles. In the beginning, Romanticism placed particular emphasis on exploring the divine wonders in nature. Its aim was to create a philosophical alternative to classical thinking and the rational Enlightenment. Furthermore, the artists were intensively concerned with the beauty of nature. For example, landscapes, still lifes and portraits were common motifs during this period.

Myths and mythical creatures

In the late Romantic period from 1815 to 1848, motifs were often depicted in more detail. Experimentation with myths and mythical creatures increased, as in the work “Night Piece with Owls and Bats” by Carl Spitzweg from 1836. It depicts more mystical and dark animals that nevertheless have an atmospheric effect.

Dark Romanticism

The last period of Romanticism is called DarkRomanticism or Horror Romanticism. As the name suggests, this period was about depicting evil mythical creatures. But also about the depths of the human psyche and even about death. These works were mostly scary and frightening, with a gloomy atmosphere. The focus here was on dealing with the dark sides of human existence.

Famous Romantic artists and their works

The Romantic period also produced artists who are still famous today. Three particularly well-known names are Caspar David Friedrich, Phillip Otto Runge and Théodore Géricault.

Caspar David Friedrich

The most important artist of German Romanticism was Caspar David Friedrich, who lived from 1774 to 1840. He became known for his mysterious landscape paintings. His pictures often showed lonely people who were in nature. This is the motif of one of his most famous works, “The Wanderer above the Sea of ​​Fog” from 1818. It shows a man standing on a mountain peak and looking into the depths of the misty mountains. If you would like to try your hand at this art form yourself, you can find a suitable workshop on landscape painting in oil here.

Phillipp Otto Runge

The German painter Phillipp Otto Runge (1777-1810) was known for his portraits and his passion for nature. He was also interested in the depiction of emotions in art. His most famous work of art is “The Morning” from 1808. He said: “The morning is the limitless illumination of the universe.” Unfortunately, Phillipp Otto Runge died at the age of 33.

Théodore Géricault

Théodore Géricault lived in France from 1791 to 1824. His works are so well known because they are often dramatic and emotional. His most famous painting is “The Raft of the Medusa” from 1819. It is so famous because this picture is based on a real disaster. It shows survivors of a shipping accident fighting for their survival. Since the disaster was due to the incompetence of the government, he also created a political message.

What makes Romanticism so special?

Romanticism was an era that related to people’s imagination and feelings. It also focused particularly on nature and portrayed it as something great and divine. It dealt with topics that are still very relevant today, such as freedom or faith. But important artists also created important works of art that still influence society today.

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Romanticism: An Art Movement That Emphasized Emotion and Turned to the Sublime

Author: Valeria Denhard