📚Art and Literature Unit 3 – Enlightenment & Romanticism

Key Concepts and Timeline

• The Age of Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries (approximately 1685-1815)
• Key Enlightenment figures include Voltaire, Rousseau, Locke, and Kant who emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority
• Romanticism emerged in the late 18th century as a reaction against the rationalism and strict rules of the Enlightenment, focusing on emotion, imagination, and individualism (approximately 1800-1850)
• The Romantic movement began in Germany and England and later spread to France, Italy, and Spain
• Key Romantic figures include Goethe, Wordsworth, Byron, and Delacroix who celebrated nature, emotion, and the individual experience
• The Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) coincided with the Romantic era, leading to rapid urbanization and social changes that influenced Romantic themes of nature and nostalgia for the past

Enlightenment Philosophy and Values

• Emphasized reason, empiricism, and scientific inquiry as the primary sources of knowledge and progress
• Challenged traditional authority, including the divine right of kings and the power of the Catholic Church
• Promoted individual liberty, religious tolerance, and the idea of natural rights (life, liberty, and property)
• Believed in the power of education to improve society and the human condition
• Advocated for the separation of church and state and the establishment of constitutional governments
• Influenced the American and French Revolutions and the development of modern democracy
• Key philosophers include:
  • John Locke: Developed the theory of the social contract and the idea of natural rights
  • Voltaire: Criticized religious intolerance and advocated for freedom of speech and thought
  • Immanuel Kant: Emphasized the importance of reason and the categorical imperative in moral philosophy

Romantic Movement: Origins and Ideals

• Emerged as a reaction against the rationalism, order, and strict rules of the Enlightenment
• Emphasized emotion, imagination, intuition, and the individual experience over reason and empiricism
• Celebrated nature as a source of inspiration and a refuge from the industrialized world
• Valued the beauty of the untamed wilderness and the sublime (awe-inspiring and sometimes terrifying aspects of nature)
• Idealized the past, particularly the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, as a time of greater simplicity, beauty, and spiritual connection
• Promoted the idea of the artist as a creative genius, whose work was an expression of their unique inner vision
• Emphasized the importance of originality, spontaneity, and self-expression in art and literature
• Influenced by the works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who emphasized the importance of emotion and the natural goodness of humanity

Comparing Enlightenment and Romantic Thought

• Enlightenment thinkers emphasized reason, while Romantics prioritized emotion and intuition
• Enlightenment valued order, clarity, and universal principles, while Romanticism celebrated individuality, complexity, and the particular
• Enlightenment focused on progress through science and education, while Romanticism often idealized the past and the beauty of nature
• Enlightenment promoted social and political reform, while Romanticism was more concerned with personal and artistic expression
• Enlightenment art and literature often had a didactic purpose, while Romantic works aimed to evoke emotion and inspire the imagination
• Despite these differences, both movements shared a concern for individual liberty and a rejection of traditional authority
• Some artists and writers, such as Goethe and Blake, incorporated elements of both Enlightenment and Romantic thought in their work

Major Artists and Writers

• Romantic poets:
  • William Wordsworth: Known for his lyrical poems celebrating nature and the individual experience (e.g., "Tintern Abbey")
  • Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Famous for his supernatural and imaginative works (e.g., "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner")
  • John Keats: Celebrated beauty and the senses in his sensuous and melodic poetry (e.g., "Ode on a Grecian Urn")
• Romantic painters:
  • Caspar David Friedrich: Known for his allegorical landscapes depicting the sublime power of nature (e.g., "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog")
  • J.M.W. Turner: Celebrated for his luminous and atmospheric seascapes and landscapes (e.g., "The Fighting Temeraire")
  • Eugène Delacroix: Famous for his dramatic and colorful paintings of historical and literary scenes (e.g., "Liberty Leading the People")
• Enlightenment writers:
  • Voltaire: Known for his witty and satirical works criticizing religious intolerance and promoting reason (e.g., "Candide")
  • Denis Diderot: Edited the Encyclopédie, which aimed to gather and disseminate knowledge across all fields
  • Olympe de Gouges: Wrote the "Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen," advocating for gender equality

Influential Works and Their Impact

• "Lyrical Ballads" by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1798): Considered the starting point of the Romantic movement in English literature, emphasizing the beauty of nature and the importance of emotion
• "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley (1818): An early science fiction novel that explores the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition and the human desire to control nature
• "The Sorrows of Young Werther" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1774): A highly influential novel that epitomized the Romantic ideal of the sensitive and passionate individual
• "The Raft of the Medusa" by Théodore Géricault (1819): A monumental painting depicting a contemporary tragedy, which exemplified the Romantic interest in human suffering and the struggle against fate
• "The Social Contract" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1762): Argued for the sovereignty of the people and inspired the French Revolution
• "The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith (1776): Laid the foundations for modern economic theory and advocated for free-market capitalism
• "The Declaration of Independence" (1776) and "The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" (1789): Embodied Enlightenment ideals of individual liberty, equality, and self-governance

Artistic and Literary Techniques

• Romantic literature:
  • Use of vivid and expressive language to evoke emotion and imagination
  • Emphasis on the beauty and power of nature as a source of inspiration
  • Exploration of the inner lives and emotions of characters
  • Use of symbolism and metaphor to convey deeper meanings
  • Experimentation with form, including the use of fragments and open-ended structures
• Romantic art:
  • Use of rich, vibrant colors and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow
  • Emphasis on movement, energy, and dynamism in compositions
  • Depiction of intense emotions and psychological states
  • Incorporation of mythological, historical, and literary themes
  • Use of loose, expressive brushwork and visible traces of the artist's hand
• Enlightenment literature:
  • Use of clear, concise language to convey ideas and arguments
  • Emphasis on reason, logic, and empirical observation
  • Exploration of social, political, and philosophical themes
  • Use of satire, irony, and wit to criticize societal norms and institutions
• Enlightenment art:
  • Emphasis on balance, harmony, and classical ideals of beauty
  • Use of precise, detailed rendering and smooth, finished surfaces
  • Incorporation of moralizing or didactic themes
  • Depiction of historical, mythological, and allegorical subjects

Legacy and Modern Influence

• The Romantic emphasis on emotion, individuality, and self-expression continues to shape our understanding of art and the role of the artist in society
• Romantic ideas about the beauty and power of nature have influenced modern environmentalism and the conservation movement
• The Romantic fascination with the supernatural and the uncanny has inspired countless works of horror and fantasy literature, from Gothic novels to contemporary films
• Enlightenment ideas about individual liberty, democracy, and the power of reason have shaped modern political systems and continue to inform debates about human rights and social justice
• The Enlightenment emphasis on science, empiricism, and progress laid the foundations for modern scientific inquiry and technological innovation
• Postmodern art and literature often engage in a critical dialogue with Enlightenment and Romantic ideas, questioning the possibility of objective truth and the stability of the self
• Contemporary artists and writers continue to draw inspiration from the themes, techniques, and ideals of the Enlightenment and Romantic movements, adapting them to address the complexities of the modern world