Angelo Cuccio

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Topic: Brief history of the Romantic period of art and its importance

Credibility Statement: I’ve always been interested in the humanities; I was thinking about minoring in
anthropology (a fun story for another day). I am currently taking a humanities class and I am passionate
about it.

Objective Statement: I think to get a better understanding of ourselves we must first get a better
understanding of romantic art and their artists. Not to mention the paintings are just so pretty.

Thesis Statement:

Attention Getter: Imagine for a moment that you woke up tomorrow and discovered that everything you
believed in had been shattered. The structures and institutions that gave your life meaning and purpose
had all crumbled away, leaving you adrift in a world without meaning. This is the world that many artists
and thinkers in the Romantic Era found themselves in. Faced with the nihilistic currents of their time,
they turned to art as a way of exploring the complexities of the human experience and finding new
sources of meaning and inspiration. But they also recognized the importance of connecting with others
and enjoying the time we have together. Today, we will explore how the art of the Romantic Era grappled
with these existential questions, and what we can learn from their insights about the meaning of life and
the importance of human connection.

Relevance Statement: I’m of the personal belief that nothing matters, that every choice we will every
make has not only already been made but has always been made. Nothing we do ever matters, nothing
we do has any real impact, so the point of living is making the most of what you have with those around
you. Something something something human experience.

Preview Statement: Unlike the middle ages which focused on religion, or the renaissance which focused
on the individual, or the baroque which focused on the romantic era focused on nature, revolution and
most importantly the human experience. But what caused this.

Transition Statement:

Many things, but most historians attribute the start and development of the the romantic era to:

The Enlightenment: The Enlightenment, which preceded the Romantic Era, emphasized reason and
rationality as the keys to understanding the world. However, some thinkers began to question the
Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and rationality, arguing that it ignored important aspects of the
human experience such as emotion, imagination, and intuition. These ideas helped lay the groundwork
for the Romantic movement.

Political upheaval: The Romantic Era coincided with a period of significant political upheaval in Europe
and North America. The French Revolution, which began in 1789, challenged traditional political and
social structures and inspired a wave of revolutionary movements throughout Europe. Many Romantic
artists were interested in these ideas and sought to explore them in their work.
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Industrialization: The rise of factories and mass production during the Industrial Revolution had a
profound impact on society, transforming the economic and social landscape of Europe and North
America. Many Romantic artists were critical of the dehumanizing effects of industrialization and sought
to explore alternative visions of human experience and identity.

Nature and the sublime: Many Romantic artists were deeply interested in the natural world, and sought
to capture its beauty and power in their work. They were also interested in exploring the concept of the
sublime, which refers to the experience of awe and terror inspired by natural phenomena such as
mountains, storms, and oceans.

Not adhering to the “lines” that separate subjects and objects in painting

• Subjects might be suffused with a glow (even sordid subjects, or subjects of misery)

• Nature is celebrated and so are peasants and others close to the natural world, close to nature

• Emotion and Dynamism are important again

• Contrast of light and dark is often prized, as in Baroque paintings—but not quite as drastically.

Body Point 1:

Emotion and Imagination: One of the defining characteristics of Romantic art is its emphasis on emotion
and imagination. Artists during this period sought to express deep, intense feelings through their work,
and often drew inspiration from nature, mythology, and folklore. They also valued individualism and self-
expression and sought to create art that reflected their own unique experiences and perspectives.

Point 2: Revolutionary Spirit: The Romantic Era was also marked by a revolutionary spirit, as artists and
intellectuals challenged traditional forms of authority and sought to break free from the constraints of
established institutions. This led to a renewed interest in the individual, the natural world, and the
supernatural, as artists sought to explore new ways of seeing and experiencing the world around them.

Point 3: Legacy and Influence: The Romantic Era had a profound impact on art, literature, and culture
more broadly, and its influence can still be seen today. Many of the themes and ideas that emerged
during this period, such as the value of nature, the importance of individualism, and the power of the
imagination, continue to resonate with artists and audiences alike. Additionally, the Romantic Era paved
the way for many other artistic movements, such as Symbolism, Expressionism, and Surrealism, which
drew on its ideas and aesthetics.

Symbolism, for example, emerged in the late 19th century as a response to the scientific and rationalist
worldview of the time. Symbolist artists sought to express abstract ideas and emotions through symbolic
imagery, often using dreamlike and mystical motifs. The Romantics' focus on the imagination and the
mysterious aspects of human experience provided an important foundation for this movement.
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Surrealism, which emerged in the 1920s, was also deeply influenced by Romantic ideas about the power
of the imagination and the irrational aspects of human experience. Surrealist artists sought to create
works that would allow viewers to access their unconscious minds, using techniques such as automatic
drawing and collage to create dreamlike, otherworldly images. The Romantic emphasis on the
imagination and the mysterious aspects of the human psyche provided an important foundation for this
movement.

Transition Statement:

As we have seen, the Romantic Era was a period of great artistic and cultural richness, characterized by a
range of styles and themes that continue to inspire and captivate audiences to this day.

Conclusion (should be at least 3-5 sentences):

In conclusion, the Romantic Era of art was a rich and diverse period in the history of art, characterized by
a range of styles and themes that continue to captivate audiences to this day. From the emphasis on
nature and the sublime, to the focus on individualism, heroism, and Gothic horror, the art of the
Romantic Era explored a range of human experiences and emotions. By studying this period, we can gain
a deeper appreciation for the complexity and richness of the human experience, and see how art can
reflect and shape the cultural and social values of its time. Whether we are drawn to the beauty of a
landscape painting, the intensity of a Gothic horror image, or the heroic ideals of a historical figure, the
art of the Romantic Era reminds us of the enduring power of the imagination and the importance of
exploring new ideas and perspectives in our own lives.