Sublime

Definition

The sublime refers to a quality of greatness or vastness that inspires awe and wonder, often invoking feelings of beauty mixed with terror. In the context of artistic expression, it captures the emotional response elicited by nature's overwhelming power and beauty, particularly during the Romantic period, where artists sought to depict intense emotions and the grandeur of the natural world.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The sublime became a key concept during the Romantic period, emphasizing not just beauty but also fear and the overwhelming aspects of nature.
2. Artists like J.M.W. Turner used dramatic lighting and turbulent scenes to create a sense of the sublime in their paintings.
3. Caspar David Friedrich often portrayed solitary figures in vast landscapes to evoke feelings of introspection and the sublime relationship between humanity and nature.
4. Edmund Burke's 1757 essay 'A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful' significantly influenced Romantic thinkers and artists by discussing how the sublime engages both emotion and reason.
5. The sublime often highlights humanity's smallness in comparison to the vastness of nature, creating a profound sense of humility and reflection.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of the sublime differ from mere beauty in art and literature?
  • The sublime goes beyond mere beauty by incorporating elements of fear, vastness, and emotional intensity. While beauty often evokes feelings of pleasure and harmony, the sublime provokes a more complex emotional response that includes awe and even terror. This distinction is evident in Romantic works where artists portray nature's overwhelming power, contrasting delicate beauty with the raw force of natural landscapes.
• In what ways did Turner and Friedrich represent the sublime in their landscape paintings?
  • Turner often used dramatic light contrasts and turbulent skies in his landscapes to evoke feelings of awe and chaos, illustrating nature's majestic power. His paintings like 'The Fighting Temeraire' capture both beauty and turmoil. On the other hand, Friedrich's work frequently features solitary figures amidst expansive landscapes that convey solitude and introspection. His pieces invite viewers to contemplate their relationship with nature, highlighting its grandeur through a deeply personal lens.
• Evaluate how the concept of the sublime influenced Romantic literature and visual arts during the 19th century.
  • The concept of the sublime had a profound impact on both Romantic literature and visual arts throughout the 19th century. Writers like Wordsworth and Coleridge used sublime themes to explore human emotions in relation to nature’s overwhelming power. In visual arts, painters such as Turner and Friedrich adopted techniques that emphasized dramatic contrasts and vast landscapes to evoke deep emotional responses. This interplay between literature and art showcased a collective yearning for understanding humanity’s place within an awe-inspiring yet terrifying natural world, making the sublime a cornerstone of Romantic expression.

Related terms

Romanticism: An artistic and intellectual movement that emerged in the late 18th century, emphasizing emotion, individualism, and a deep connection to nature.

Aesthetic Experience: The personal emotional response one has to art or nature, which can include feelings of pleasure, awe, or discomfort.

Nature: The physical world collectively, including landscapes, mountains, and weather phenomena that often served as inspiration for artists seeking to evoke the sublime.