Romanticism and Industrial Revolution
Discuss some of the ways in which Romantic artists, musicians and writers (poets too) responded to the political and socioeconomic conditions in the period from 1800 to 1850. Document your response with specific examples from discussions of at least two of the three disciplines: visual arts, music and literature.
Romanticism – best understood as a set of attitudes and aesthetic preferences rather than a defined doctrine – emphasis on feeling, emotion, and direct experience – viewed nature as an unpredictable power that was raw and unconquerable – admiration for imagination
Artists - the evocation of nature and time was one of the favorite Romantic themes
-Paintings of storms and ruins that evoked unseen powers –– this is seen in the landscapes of William Constable and J.M.W Turner in England and Caspar David Friedrich in Germany
-Romantic painters like Theodore Gericault in France emphasized vibrant color and swirling lines without the sharp outlines and balanced composition so important to their predecessors. – in Eugene Delacroix paintings, he drew exotic scenes from the past
Musicians – Romantic values came together with particular power in music, admired for its ability to communicate an ineffable understanding deeper than words.
- Beethoven brought a self-conscious seriousness to music – shared experience something akin to religion – his music is alive with passion – he wrote during the time of Industrial Revolution, so he was inspired because freedom was now a reachable goal and times had changed from the times of Classicism
- Subsequent composers appealed even more directly to the heart, emphasizing meoldy and using freer harmonies – Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann combined words and music in song cycles
Writers – Romantic modes of thought flourished in conjunction with the revival of religion, increased interest in history, and rising nationalism – many poets used the anguish, depression, and despair in their lives to summon a higher
Romanticism – best understood as a set of attitudes and aesthetic preferences rather than a defined doctrine – emphasis on feeling, emotion, and direct experience – viewed nature as an unpredictable power that was raw and unconquerable – admiration for imagination
Artists - the evocation of nature and time was one of the favorite Romantic themes
-Paintings of storms and ruins that evoked unseen powers –– this is seen in the landscapes of William Constable and J.M.W Turner in England and Caspar David Friedrich in Germany
-Romantic painters like Theodore Gericault in France emphasized vibrant color and swirling lines without the sharp outlines and balanced composition so important to their predecessors. – in Eugene Delacroix paintings, he drew exotic scenes from the past
Musicians – Romantic values came together with particular power in music, admired for its ability to communicate an ineffable understanding deeper than words.
- Beethoven brought a self-conscious seriousness to music – shared experience something akin to religion – his music is alive with passion – he wrote during the time of Industrial Revolution, so he was inspired because freedom was now a reachable goal and times had changed from the times of Classicism
- Subsequent composers appealed even more directly to the heart, emphasizing meoldy and using freer harmonies – Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann combined words and music in song cycles
Writers – Romantic modes of thought flourished in conjunction with the revival of religion, increased interest in history, and rising nationalism – many poets used the anguish, depression, and despair in their lives to summon a higher