Romanticism Romanticism in 19in 19thth Century Europe Century Europe

The life of Europeans as seen The life of Europeans as seen through their literature, through their literature,

music, images, and music, images, and architecture architecture

Wanderer Wanderer above the above the

seasea

byby

Caspar Caspar David David

FriedrichFriedrich

What is Romanticism?What is Romanticism?

• The Enlightenment didn’t work: it caused The Enlightenment didn’t work: it caused more violence.more violence.

• The old social order is no good: it led to The old social order is no good: it led to the troubles of the Industrial Revolution.the troubles of the Industrial Revolution.

• The people turned to ROMANTICISM:The people turned to ROMANTICISM:– Rejecting established rules and conventions.Rejecting established rules and conventions.– Refusing to accept rigid standards on form and Refusing to accept rigid standards on form and

expression.expression.– Focusing on the emotional elements of Focusing on the emotional elements of

humanity.humanity.

The Effect of RomanticismThe Effect of Romanticism

• Socialists, atheists, revolutionaries, Socialists, atheists, revolutionaries, and Christians all supported and Christians all supported romanticism.romanticism.

• Themes covered nature, the Middle Themes covered nature, the Middle Ages, or even exotic lands.Ages, or even exotic lands.

RomantiRomanticc

Music Music

BeethovenBeethoven

ChopinChopin

SchumannSchumann

““Music to me Music to me is the perfect is the perfect expression of expression of the soul”the soul”

SchumannSchumann

Robert SchumannRobert Schumann

• He began his adult life studying Law but He began his adult life studying Law but dropped out. dropped out.

• He took up piano.He took up piano.

• He studied with Frederick Wick and ended up He studied with Frederick Wick and ended up marrying his daughter, Clara, who was a marrying his daughter, Clara, who was a composer (although not a profession open to composer (although not a profession open to women).women).

• Later in his life, he became ill, started having Later in his life, he became ill, started having hallucinations, and attempted suicide. He hallucinations, and attempted suicide. He ended up in an asylum and died two years ended up in an asylum and died two years later.later.

His compositionsHis compositions

• He is most noted for the purist form of He is most noted for the purist form of romanticism.romanticism.

• His music is expressive, full of His music is expressive, full of emotion.emotion.

• His favorite theme was love, His favorite theme was love, especially love from a woman’s especially love from a woman’s perspective.perspective.

• He was known as “Poet of the Piano.”He was known as “Poet of the Piano.”

Comparing PeriodsComparing Periods

• Classical PeriodClassical Period– Seeks OrderSeeks Order– Seeks PoiseSeeks Poise– Seeks SerenitySeeks Serenity– Objectively views Objectively views

lifelife– ModerationModeration– Emotion is Emotion is

controlledcontrolled

• Romantic PeriodRomantic Period– Seeks StrangenessSeeks Strangeness– Seeks Wonder Seeks Wonder – Seeks EcstacySeeks Ecstacy– Intensely subjectiveIntensely subjective– All about the All about the

personal personal perspectiveperspective

RomanticisRomanticism in m in LiteratureLiterature

William BlakeWilliam Blake

Songs of Innocence and Songs of Innocence and ExperienceExperience

INFANT JOYINFANT JOY

``I have no name: ``I have no name: I am but two days old.'' I am but two days old.'' What shall I call thee? What shall I call thee? ``I happy am, ``I happy am, Joy is my name.'' Joy is my name.'' Sweet joy befall thee! Sweet joy befall thee!

Pretty joy! Pretty joy! Sweet joy but two days old, Sweet joy but two days old, Sweet joy I call thee: Sweet joy I call thee: Thou dost smile, Thou dost smile, I sing the while, I sing the while, Sweet joy befall thee!Sweet joy befall thee!

INFANT SORROWINFANT SORROW

My mother groan'd! my father My mother groan'd! my father wept. wept.

Into the dangerous world I leapt: Into the dangerous world I leapt: Helpless, naked, piping loud: Helpless, naked, piping loud: Like a fiend hid in a cloud. Like a fiend hid in a cloud.

Struggling in my father's hands, Struggling in my father's hands, Striving against my swadling Striving against my swadling

bands, bands, Bound and weary I thought best Bound and weary I thought best To sulk upon my mother's To sulk upon my mother's

breast.breast.

Mary Mary ShelleyShelley

FrankensteinFrankenstein

1.1.What is What is Frankenstein’s Frankenstein’s reaction to his reaction to his creation?creation?

2.2.What is the theme What is the theme of Frankenstein?of Frankenstein?

3.3.What does this What does this excerpt tell us excerpt tell us about the period?about the period?

George Sand, page 144-145George Sand, page 144-145

Romantic ArchitectureRomantic Architecture

• Inspired by the Middle Ages, there Inspired by the Middle Ages, there was a gothic revivalwas a gothic revival

• Gothic architecture included ribbed Gothic architecture included ribbed vaults, pointed arches, and flying vaults, pointed arches, and flying buttressesbuttresses

• Pages 150-151Pages 150-151

Ribbed VaultRibbed Vault

Flying ButtressFlying Buttress

Pointed Pointed ArchesArches

Romantic PaintingsRomantic Paintings

Romantic Visual ArtRomantic Visual Art

• Revival of ancient myths, customs Revival of ancient myths, customs and traditions by Romanticist and traditions by Romanticist painters helped to distinguish their painters helped to distinguish their native cultures from those of the native cultures from those of the dominant nations. dominant nations.

• Patriotism, nationalism, revolution Patriotism, nationalism, revolution and armed struggle for and armed struggle for independence also became popular independence also became popular themes in the arts of this period. themes in the arts of this period.

A Painting as a Primary A Painting as a Primary SourceSource1.1. What is the subject of the painting? OR What What is the subject of the painting? OR What

scene is depicted in the painting?scene is depicted in the painting?

2.2. Describe the setting of the painting.Describe the setting of the painting.

3.3. Describe what is taking place in the Describe what is taking place in the painting.painting.

4.4. What is the artist’s theme?What is the artist’s theme?

5.5. What is the tone or mood of the painting?What is the tone or mood of the painting?

6.6. Choose one of the main characters in the Choose one of the main characters in the painting, and write 2-5 sentences of what painting, and write 2-5 sentences of what that character is thinking or saying in the that character is thinking or saying in the painting.painting.

Other IsmsOther Isms

• NationalismNationalism

• PatriotismPatriotism

• RealismRealism

• LiberalismLiberalism

• AnarchismAnarchism

• DarwinismDarwinism