Romanticism


 * Background: **
 * Romanticism began with writers and poets, and their ideals spread to other areas of the art world. It was not romantic in the modern sense...that is, it does not tell all stories of love and romance. ** In this case, "romantic" means idealized and dramatic. **
 * For example, you might **//romanticize//** the story of your memories of Kindergarten by focusing on a story of teamwork and growing up, and leave out the part where you peed your pants or picked on another child.
 * This movement gained strength in response to the **Industrial Revolution**, as a reaction //against// the changes that it brought to society (factories, machines, city life, etc), and is characterized by inspiring scenes of nature, and dramatic depictions of events.


 * Artwork: **
 * The Romantics sought to evoke a ** spiritual and emotional response to art **, and explored folklore, mythology, fairy tales, and legends for inspiration.
 * It's often very narrative, with dramatic scenes, sweeping landscapes, and subjects that appear as characters in a story.
 * In short, Romanticism created beautiful, inspirational, dramatic work.

Take a look at some of these works below, and notice the beauty, drama, and emotion that the artists **evoke**. Eugene Delacroix, French || **Caspar David Friedrich** is one of the most important painters of this movement, known for his dramatic and emotional landscapes. His spiritual contemplation of nature was a brand new way of landscape painting. Caspar David Friedrich || Francisco de Goya, Spanish || //** Shootings of May 3 in Madrid **//, 1814 Francisco de Goya, Spanish || John Constable, English || William Blake is a famous Romantic poet as well as an artist, with a very unique style. His artwork illustates his ideas, philosophies, and visions that he experienced throughout his life.
 * One of the most famous and radical paintings of it's time, "Liberty Leading the People," by **Eugene Delacroix**, depicts the French Revolution. In reality, this event was violent, tragic, and devastating, like any war. This painting romanticizes the idea of revolution, and depicts the uprising as a glorious and dramatic event with the heroine depicted almost like a Greek goddess.
 * One of the most famous and radical paintings of it's time, "Liberty Leading the People," by **Eugene Delacroix**, depicts the French Revolution. In reality, this event was violent, tragic, and devastating, like any war. This painting romanticizes the idea of revolution, and depicts the uprising as a glorious and dramatic event with the heroine depicted almost like a Greek goddess.
 * // Liberty Leading the People //**
 * // Wanderer Above Sea of Fo //**g, 1818
 * **Francisco de Goya** is considered by some to be the "Father of Modern Art," and created artwork that influenced future artists and pioneered new ways of making and thinking about painting. ||
 * [[image:goyasleepofreason.jpg width="234" height="357"]]
 * // The Sleep of Reason Begets Nightmares //**
 * **John Constable** is one of the greatest landscape painters of all time. Although a Romantic painter, he was not interested in trends, only in the landscape itself.
 * // The Cornfield //**, 1826

William Blake ||
 * // The Ghost of a Flea //**, 1820

Romanticism Overview at the Met,

William Blake Overview at the Met, exhibit, Blake Society, __ Artchive, __at CGFA

John Constable Interesting Facts and Quotes, Great Info at The Met, __ Artchive __

Caspar David Freidrich caspardavidfriedrich.org, Webmuseum, __ Artchive, __at CGFA

Francisco de Goya Interesting Facts and Quotes, Complete Works, Great info at The Met, __ Artchive, __at CGFA