German Romanticism Explained

German Romanticism was a movement that emerged in the late 18th century and had a profound impact on the arts, culture, and thought. It started in Germany and then swept across Europe.

It originated in Germany but quickly spread to other parts of Europe, including England, France, and Russia. The movement was characterized by its emphasis on feeling and emotion, its celebration of nature and the individual, and its rejection of reason and logic.

What Subjects Were Favored by British and German Romantic Painters?

Romanticism and landscape painting often go hand in hand. Romantic landscape paintings are some of the most instantly recognizable paintings in art history.

On the whole, German Romanticism was a reaction against the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement that emphasized reason and logic. The Romantics believed that reason could not always explain everything, and they sought to understand the world through intuition and emotion. They celebrated nature and the individual, and their work often explored themes of death, suffering, and love.

The Key Figures of German Romanticism

The Romantics were a diverse group of thinkers, and their work spanned many genres, including poetry, drama, painting, music, and philosophy. Some of the most famous Romantic authors include Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, Novalis, Heinrich Heine, and E.T.A. Hoffmann.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was a poet, novelist, dramatist, and scientist. He is considered the father of German Romanticism, and his work was highly influential both during his lifetime and after his death. His most famous works include Faust, a tragedy about a man who sells his soul to the devil, and The Sorrows of Young Werther, a novel about unrequited love.

Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805) was a poet, dramatist, and historian. He is best known for his plays, which include The Robbers, a tragedy about two brothers who turn to a life of crime, and Maria Stuart, a drama about the rivalry between two queens. Schiller was also a leading voice of the Sturm und Drang movement, a literary movement that emphasized emotion and individualism.

Novalis (1772-1801) was a poet, novelist, and philosopher. His work was highly influential, and he is often credited with being the first Romantic writer. His most famous work is Hymns to the Night, a collection of poems about death and love. Novalis was also a leading figure in the Sturm und Drang movement.

Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) was a poet, journalist, and essayist. He is considered one of the most important German Romantic poets. His work often explored themes of love, death, and exile. Heine was also a leading voice of the Young Germany movement, a group of writers who critiqued social ills and advocated for political change.

E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776-1822) was a novelist, short story writer, and composer. He is best known for his dark and Gothic tales, which often featured themes of death, madness, and the supernatural. Hoffmann was also a leading figure in the Romantic music movement, and his work was highly influential on composers such as Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner.

Development of German Romanticism Art

The German Romantic movement began in the late 18th century, in the aftermath of the French Revolution. The French Revolution had a profound impact on Germany, and it sparked a wave of revolutions across Europe. In 1789, King Louis XVI was overthrown, and the French monarchy was abolished. The following year, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted, which guaranteed equality and freedom for all people.

These events had a deep impact on German intellectuals, who began to question their own society. They started to criticize the German Enlightenment, which they saw as being too rational and too closely aligned with the French Revolution. They also called for a return to German values and traditions.

The early years of the German Romantic movement were marked by a sense of excitement and Optimism. However, this changed in the early 19th century, as Napoleon Bonaparte began his conquest of Europe. By 1806, Napoleon had defeated the German states and established the Confederation of the Rhine. This led to a period of political instability in Germany, and many Romantics became disillusioned with their country.

The period between 1815 and 1830 was known as the Vormärz, or “pre-March.” This was a time of great social and political turmoil in Germany. In 1819, the Carlsbad Decrees were issued, which suppressed freedom of the press and heavily censored universities. These measures sparked protests across Germany, which were violently put down by the government.

The year 1848 was a turning point in German history. It was known as the Year of Revolutions, and it saw uprisings across Europe. In Germany, the people revolted against the repressive regime of King Frederick William IV. The Revolution was quickly crushed, but it marked a significant shift in the German Romantic movement. Many Romantics now began to advocate for social and political change.

The last decades of the 19th century were marked by economic growth and technological innovation. This led to a new wave of Optimism, which had a profound impact on the arts. New forms of expression, such as Expressionism and Dada, emerged during this time. However, World War I brought an end to this period of creativity, and German Romanticism entered a period of decline.

Dominant Characteristics

Older romantics, such as the Schlegel brothers and Novalis, were mostly interested in language, literature, and philosophy. They were influenced by the ideas of Johann Gottfried Herder, who argued that each nation had its own unique culture and language. They believed that Art should express the innermost emotions of the soul, and they sought to create a new literary genre that would be uniquely German.

The early Romantics were also influenced by the Sturm und Drang movement, which emphasized emotion over reason. This led them to embrace wild and passionate themes in their work. Many of their stories and poems featured dark and Gothic elements, such as ghosts, witches, and monsters.

Later, Romantics, such as Heine and Hoffmann, were more interested in social issues. They critiqued the bourgeois society of the early 19th century, and they advocated for social reform. They also began to experiment with new literary genres, such as the historical novel and the fairy tale.

The late Romantics, such as Wagner and Liszt, were primarily concerned with music. They believed that music could express the deepest emotions of the soul, and they sought to create a new type of musical composition that would be uniquely German.

Romantic Themes

The German Romantics were deeply influenced by the changes that were taking place in their country. They were living in a time of great political and social upheaval, and many of their works reflect this turmoil.

The French Revolution was a major source of inspiration for the Romantics. They were fascinated by the idea of a people rising up and overthrowing their government. They also saw the Revolution as a victory for the German people, who had been oppressed by Napoleon.

The Romantics were also interested in the past, and many of their works reflect a longing for a simpler time. They idealized the Middle Ages when Germany was a free and unified country. Many of their stories and poems feature medieval knights and damsels in distress.

Nature was another important theme for the German Romantics. They believed that nature was a source of inspiration, and they often wrote about their love of hiking and camping in the mountains. They also believed that nature could help us to understand our innermost emotions.

Finally, the German Romantics were deeply interested in the issue of national identity. They believed that Germany was a unique and special nation with its own culture and language. They sought to promote German Art and literature in order to create a sense of national pride.

Nature and the Divine

The German Romantics believed that nature was a source of inspiration for artists and writers. They often wrote about their love of hiking and camping in the mountains. Many of their stories and poems feature beautiful descriptions of the natural world.

The Romantics also believed that nature could help us to understand our innermost emotions. They felt a deep connection to the natural world, and they often wrote about their feelings of awe and wonder.

Finally, the German Romantics believed that nature was a manifestation of the divine. They saw God in the power of thunderstorms, the beauty of sunsets, and the grandeur of mountains. Many of their works express a deep sense of reverence for nature.

Nazarenes

The Nazarenes were a group of German painters who were influenced by the Italian artist Raphael. They sought to revive the classical style of painting, and they believed that Art should be used to promote religious and moral values.

The Nazarenes were deeply influenced by the Bible, and many of their paintings feature biblical scenes. They were also interested in the work of early Christian artists, such as Giotto and Fra Angelico.

The Nazarenes were part of a broader trend known as Romantic Classicism. This movement sought to combine the best of both the Romantic and Classical traditions in Art. Other artists who were associated with Romantic Classicism include Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein and Caspar David Friedrich.

The Last Romantics

After 1830, the German Romantics began to lose interest in the intellectual and political concerns of their earlier works. Instead, they turned their attention to music, philosophy, and religion.

The German Romantics also made significant contributions to philosophy. Arthur Schopenhauer developed a pessimistic view of human nature, while Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel created a complex system of thought that would later be adopted by Karl Marx.

Finally, the German Romantics were deeply interested in religion. They believed that Christianity was in decline, and they sought to revive it through their writing and preaching. Many of the late Romantics, such as Friedrich Schleiermacher and Philipp Jakob Spener, were leaders in the Protestant Reformation.