Romantic art was an artistic movement of the 18th and 19th centuries. It came about as a form of artistic rebellion against the orderly Enlightenment era. Its main characterizations are dark, chaotic subject matter and nature's ascendancy over mankind.
History
Romantic art, or romanticism, developed in reaction to the technique called neoclassicism. It is therefore described as anti-classicism. It was one of the dominant European styles for generations. During their heyday in the 1800s, artists often used both romanticism and classicism simultaneously. Many of today's artists have been either directly or indirectly influenced by romanticism, and the impressionist painters of the 20th century were heavily influenced by romanticism.
Characteristics
Romantic art is a highly emotional school of art: deeply felt, exotic, beautiful and even passionate. It is famous as a blending of stylistic boundaries. The central notion of romanticism, however, is to draw from ordered classicism and use subversion to assert the originality of the artist. Romantic art revels in the individual, subjective, irrational, imaginative, personal, spontaneous, emotional, visionary and transcendental. It rejects order, calm, harmony, balance, idealization and rationality. Romantic art shows a preference for exotic, mysterious, monstrous, diseased, occult and even satanic subject matter.
Philosophy
Romanticism as a philosophy was a response to artistic disillusionment with the Enlightenment. That movement's post-French Revolution values of reason and order led artists in France and England to seek beauty and passion through art. The thoughts and feelings that ruled this romantic philosophy were appreciation of the beauty of nature, exultation of emotion over reason, the senses over intellect and a focus on heroes.
The Artists
Artists who have been associated with romantic art include Caspar David Friedrich, John Constable, JMW Turner and William Blake. In the United States, the Hudson River School--producer of dramatic landscapes--led the American romantic movement. Jacques-Louis David's studio in France is largely credited with creating the philosophy and practice of romantic art.
Geography
Romanticism first gained attention in France and England during the end of the 18th century. This school of art reigned in these countries for most of the 19th century as well. The U.S. also had a strong romantic element during this time.
