Romanticism is an art movement that was developed by some of the greatest artists in the late 18th century. How long it lasted and what makes up the characteristics of this art category is highly debated by enthusiasts and critics because of the diverse styles and subjects that Romantic artists used in their work.
Romanticism can be defined loosely as a pulling away of artists from the calm logic of neoclassical art and focusing on the emotional and primal qualities available in their mediums, which drew heavily from the untamed qualities in nature and within mankind. However, the term 'Romantic' may be misleading, because Romantic framed art isn't very concerned with love or romance like the Rococo artists were.
Instead they were focused on a wide range of emotion within their art and depicting attitudes of glorification and passion. Using artistic techniques, these artists enjoyed depicting the emotional range of awe, terror, loneliness, greed, and innocence.
Another idea of Romantic art that differed from neoclassical views was the inability of mankind to overcome sublime forces of nature. Floods, thunderstorms, blizzards, and nearly every other natural catastrophe are depicted in Romantic art. The imagination and dramatic flair that these artists used in their works was not only startling at the time but has also formed lasting impressions on their audiences. Influential artists who used these naturally dramatic states included Caspar David Friedrich and Francisco Goya, whose heavily detailed, emotive works produced reactions ranging from fierce rebellion to quiet horror.
Romantic art was also used to portray the political events of the time. One of the most famous paintings of this time period, 'Liberty Leading the People' by Eugene Delacroix was one such work, and commented on the July Revolution of 1830. Another artist, Theodore Gericault used his influential work, 'The Raft of the Medusa' as a depiction of the suffering and tragedy of the wrecked frigate, Meduse, a few years earlier. These events caused emotion in their audiences then and lives on now in the hearts and minds of millions today.
