Romanticism

Romanticism was, as is usually the case in art movements or periods, a reaction to previous periods. Before Romanticism, Neoclassicism embraced the ideals of the Enlightenment and reason. During the Renaissance, methods used in science were applied to art and social issues. While it certainly hard to argue that the great strides were not made during this time, there were those who felt that something was missing. People began to think that reason was not the answer to every question. The Romantics felt that the ideals of Neoclassicism and the Enlightenment were too confining. They valued freedom and imagination above reason. Instead of looking back to the classical period for inspiration, as was the case with in the Neoclassical and Renaissance periods, the Romantics looked back to the Middle Ages. Much of the art and literature during this time was dark and brooding. They embraced emotionalism for its own sake. The dark and even the macabre were not off limits to the Romantic. They were drawn to the exotic and far off locals. Nature was also an important element in much art during this time and was idealized for its power and mystery. Art from this movement often used diagonal compositions, bold textures and bright hues to express passion and emotion. Emotion was paramount over form. In music, Romanticism brought us Beethoven, who moved beyond the simply formal concerns of the past and injected great passion into his music and as a result created some of the greatest music ever composted.