The Romantics created artworks that symbolized social and economic divides in their society. Romantic painters utilized their passions to express tragic and nearly terrifying work to their communities, contrasting against the traditional works created for decades. It became the Romantics that sparked a generation that would soon lead to modern artists.
Following the years of war in North America and Europe in the late 18th century, artists such as Théodore Géricault, Francisco Goya, and J. M. W. Turner expressed their viewpoint of Romanticism within various painting styles. From portraits to landscapes, these artists pushed the limit of the artistic movement to share their perspectives and imagination with the following generations. Along with painters, other art mediums grew in popularity and expanded among the Romanticism style. “Romanticism was not limited to the visual arts, but influenced music and literature as well.” (Hansen, P. 2014). Authors such as Victor Hugo and musicians Ludwig van Beethoven and Frédéric Chopin contributed to the Romanticism period of art, expanding the possibilities of this movement.
Art communities grew beyond tradition during the Romanticism period and formulated what is known today as Impressionist artwork. The domino effect of Romanticism impacted artistry, becoming the turning point for Impressionist painters. Painters such as Claude Monet launched Impressionism at its height, showcasing his passion through landscape paintings. Nevertheless, creatives of the early 19th century encapsulated the emotion of Romanticism and expanded its limits that formulated contemporary art created in the 21st century. Without artists using their skills to bring awareness to the war-filled tragedy of the late 18th century, artists during the Impressionism period would not have been as bold in their art movements. Seeing how Romanticism played a role in the uprise of Impressionism shows artists today that each generation of creativity is honored and utilized to expand the art community.
Learning from tradition while utilizing artistry as an emotional outlet to bring awareness to a situation or crisis allows the artists to be self-expressive. Romantics and Impressionists alike had different art styles yet were similar in many ways. Today, artists can see the boldness of their work and the reflection of a darker time before the Industrial Revolution. And as Christians, we can see how the change from religious pieces to the frequent use of landscapes and portraits. While the Romantics were fond of dramatic and fantasy paintings, Impressionist landscapes showed more of God’s creation and artistry. Scripture says, “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31, ESV Bible). God is the ultimate artist, and He created everything around that inspired Romantics and Impressionists.
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Hannah J. Pasquini © 2022
References:
Hansen, P. (2014) Presentation: Romanticism Overview by Phil Hansen Available from Liberty University Online. 2021.
The English Standard (ESV) Bible Genesis 1:31
