German Romanticism (Deutsche Romantik) is an influential movement emphasizing profound emotions, the beauty of nature, and the power of individual thought. Artists seek a deeper understanding of human experience against a backdrop of rapid change.
Romanticism is the dominant intellectual and cultural movement of the German principalities primarily between 1790 and 1840. It's characterized by profound changes in various spheres, including art, literature, philosophy, music and the sciences.
Like many artistic and social movements, Romanticism arises as a reaction. The rationalism of the Enlightenment and the mechanization of the early industrial revolution cycle into a return to nature and the power of emotion.
Historical Context and Origins
Sturm und Drang, usually translated as "storm and stress" is a proto-Romantic movement in German literature and music between the late 1760s and early 1780s. Within the movement, individual subjectivity and extremes of emotion are given free expression.
The movement escapes the perceived constraints of rationalism imposed by the Enlightenment and associated aesthetic movements. Sturm und Drang is named after Friedrich Maximilian Klinger's play of the same name in 1777.
Moreover, unsettling visions and depictions of nightmares attract audiences in Germany. It's exemplified by Goethe's ownership and appreciation of Fuseli's paintings, which he says are capable of "giving the viewer a good fright."
Goethe and Friedrich Schiller are proponents of the movement early in their lives. Later, they embrace a modern view of classicism. Also called Neoclassicism, it starts in the 18th century as European aristocrats rediscover the worlds of ancient Greece and Rome.
Interest in archaeology soars, peaking into the 19th century. Classicism takes inspiration from classic, antique architecture and sculpture. The Neoclassicists react against the frivolous and frothy Rococo style (1740 - 1770).
The roots of German Romanticism coincide with significant social and political upheavals, including the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. These changes prompt a search for identity and unity among the politically fragmented German-speaking nations.
The aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars leaves a heightened sense of national identity with the formation of the Confederated States of the Rhine. Artists and intellectuals seek to define what it means to be German.
A longing for a mystical connection to the past is a prominent theme, amidst the era's technological advances. The invention of the bicycle in the early 1800s takes people further faster. It contributes to personal independence, especially that of house-bound women.
This period sees the rise of the middle class and growing distrust of the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason. People are ready for a new appreciation of emotion, intuition and spiritual dimensions. The Enlightenment itself is a response late Renaissance frippery.
Goethe and Schiller spearhead the movement in literature with "Die Räuber" (The Robbers) by Schiller, and Goethe's "The Sorrows of Young Werther." Philosophers like Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Karl Marx and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel contribute to Romantic thought.
The theme of "The Sorrows of Young Werther" revolves around unrequited love and mental health. Werther fixates on what is unattainable, leading to his own madness. Instead of leaving to seek peace and happiness, he opts to remain and self-destruct.
Characteristics of German Romanticism
German Romanticism is marked by specific characteristics, which collectively define the era. These include:
Emphasis on Emotion and Individualism
A deep appreciation for emotions, feelings, and individual experience set Romanticism apart. The movement celebrated personal introspection, intuition, and imagination over rationality and universal rules.
Nature as a Source of Inspiration
Nature was revered as a source of beauty and solace. Romantic thinkers often viewed the natural world as a mirror to human emotions and a refuge from the encroachments of industrial society.
Interest in Folklore and Mythology
Romantics sought inspiration in folklore, myths, and the collective unconscious. They believed that these elements contained the essence of the national spirit and cultural identity.
Exploration of the Past
A fascination with history, particularly the medieval past, influences Germans in the same way the earlier Renaissance reaches into the ancient Greco-Roman Classical world. This is evident in literature and art, which often seeks to recapture the mystique of bygone days.
Focus on the Supernatural and the Sublime
Romantic artists and writers frequently explore themes of the supernatural, the sublime, and the mysterious, emphasizing the awe-inspiring aspects of existence. In Germany the legend of the Lorelei (Loreley) is born, and Goethe popularizes the Renaissance legend of Faust.
Romantic thinkers value intuition and personal creativity. Experiencing the sublime is a recurring theme. Romantic art and literature explore complex human emotions, such as love, loss, and the quest for meaning.
This trend makes fertile ground for future artistic movements to prioritize subjective experiences. Art works in cycles, much like social trends. When the furor of Romanticism wanes, society returns to a focus on empirical thought.
This is overtaken by later romantic and back-to-nature movements, the cycles repeating throughout the 1900s. Germany experiences more than one industrial revolution as it does not become a unified nation until 1871.
The country's unification is orchestrated by Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor and major political figure under King Wilhelm I of Prussia. Three decisive wars solidify the borders of Germany, first against Denmark1864, then Austria in 1866 and finally France in 1870.
Effects of German Romanticism
The effects of German Romanticism were multifaceted and far-reaching. Artists break free from classical constraints, resulting in groundbreaking movements across disciplines.
Literature
Karoline von Günderrode (1780 - 1806), whose tragic death by suicide at age 26, a dagger through the heart, inspires a trend of interest in her writing and a focus on melancholy and self-expression. She's a strong catalyst in the overall movement of Romanticism.
Romantic literature reflects the movement's central ideals. Goethe's "The Sorrows of Young Werther," profoundly affects readers and becomes a defining example of Romantic literature. It highlights the intensity of emotion, a hallmark of the era.
The Brothers Grimm collect and publish folklore and fairy tales of the Germans. Many stories are moral lessons. Although meant for children the tales are often dark and violent, requiring several editions by the Grimms and later before morphing into the fairy tales of today.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (pub.1818) is based on Castle Frankenstein in Odenwald (Forest of Odes). She writes it on a rainy visit to Germany. Originally a limited edition of 50, it becomes a global phenomenon as Shelley explores themes of science, nature and creation.
Visual Art
Visual artists like Caspar David Friedrich express the Romantic ethos through landscape paintings emphasizing the connection between humanity and the rest of nature, inviting introspection and contemplation.
While Friedrich is the defining factor in the visual arts of the Romantic era in Germany, other artists also make important contributions. They include Theodor Rehbenitz, Phillip Otto Runge and Ludwig Richter.
Philosophy
Romantic philosophers challenged Enlightenment views on reason, advocating for a synthesis of rationality and emotion. Figures like Friedrich Schlegel and Novalis point out the interconnection of all aspects of existence.
Romanticism also critiques the social and economic consequences of industrialization, exploring themes influenced by Karl Marx, especially his theories of work and alienation (1844). The longing for a simpler, more connected existence with nature prevails.
Social changes, particularly the migration from rural areas to urban centers due to industrialization, lead to feelings of dislocation and alienation. Romanticism is a response to these conditions, providing a means to explore personal and collective struggles.
Philosophers like Friedrich Schlegel and Novalis shape Romantic thought, investigating existentialism and idealism. They emphasize personal experience, igniting debates on reality and perception. Their ideas encourage an introspective approach to philosophy.
Music
Composers such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms and Franz Schubert break from classical conventions, incorporating personal expression and emotion into their compositions. This becomes a hallmark of Romantic music.
Beethoven's symphonies explore themes of heroism. Brahms blends traditional structures with deep emotional resonance to capturing both mind and heart.
Robert Schumann is the epitome of the tragic Romantic. He writes in all the major musical genres of his era, creating pieces for solo piano, voice and piano, chamber ensembles, orchestra, choir, and opera.
His work embodies the essence of the Romantic period in German music. Increasing mental and physical health issues lead to his early death at age 46. His wife Clara, daughter of his piano mentor, is one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era.
Over her 61-year concert career, Clara Schumann changes the format and repertoire of the piano recital by lessening importance of purely virtuosic works. Her portrait, from an1835 lithograph by Andreas Staub, is on the 100 Deutsche Mark banknote 1989 - 2002.
Science and Nature
The Romantic era also brings an appreciation for the natural sciences, with people like Alexander von Humboldt exploring the interconnectedness of nature, influencing later ecological thought.
His travels and studies of ecosystems have enormous influence in social and scientific spheres, reflecting the Romantic belief in the unity of humanity and the natural world. Humboldt penguins are named after him.
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