THE 10 MOST FREQUENT THEMES OF ROMANTICISM - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The themes of romanticism are characterized by the demand for the freedom of the artist, the exaltation of emotions and feelings (against the reasoning of the previous period) or the search for imagination and creativity.

Romanticism is an artistic and ideological movement that began in Germany in the late 18th century and continued until the mid-19th century. The term "romanticism" is credited to the German poet Friedrich Schegel, who used it to describe literature "that expresses feelings in an imaginative way."

"The walker on the sea of ​​clouds" by Caspar Friedrich

This movement arises as a reaction against the conservationist and orthodox ideologies of European societies.

Romanticism, like any other artistic movement, rejects the immediate movements that preceded it, neoclassicism and French rationalism, and appropriates elements from other artistic periods. In this sense, romantic artists sought to imitate the Greeks and Romans.

You may also be interested in this list of authors of romanticism.

Main themes of romanticism

1 - Feelings and emotions

Feelings and emotions are one of the main topics discussed in romanticism, which take priority over logic and facts. This is why the products of romanticism are a reflection of the author's inner emotions.

2 - Imagination

Imagination was the most treasured faculty during the Romantic period, which prevailed over reason, since it was considered the faculty that allowed us to interpret the symbols that nature provided.

3 - Innocence and wisdom of childhood

Childhood is seen as the golden age while maturity is the stage of disappointment, betrayal and corruption. The romantics were the first to use children as "individuals", who were idealized as a source of wisdom that was forbidden to adults.

In novels belonging to this period, children play an important role, representing innocence and which romantic authors long for. In the same way, children reflect the stage of life devoid of "conflicts", what is lost when they grow up.

4 - Nature

Nature is a subject of great relevance in romanticism. For romantic artists, nature is a source of beauty and, in the same way, it is the medium through which the "spirit" of the universe manifests.

In the artistic representations of this period, nature acquired different connotations: sometimes, healing powers were attributed to it; in other cases, it was a source of inspiration and images.

It could also be presented as a refuge from the artificial constructions of civilization, such as society and politics. However, the most important role of nature was that of the representation of the author's moods, a subject on which we will delve into the next point.

5 - Representation of the "I" through external elements

The artist's internal "I" is represented through the external elements that surround him. In this sense, nature is often the mirror in which the artist reflects. For example, a dark and rainy night can represent a tormented soul; while a stream with fluttering birds transmit a sense of peace and harmony.

6 - Nostalgia

This movement was influenced by the theory of evolution and uniformism, which stated that "the past is the key to the present." In this sense, the works of romanticism reflect nostalgia for the past or for what could not be.

Instead of appreciating the here and now, the artists of the period value more the lost elements and values, as well as the alternate realities that are beyond their reach.

Part of this nostalgia can be seen in the desire to return to the characteristics of Greek and Roman art.

Similarly, the romantics missed the sensibilities of the Middle Ages and the narrative elements of this period; in fact, the word "romanticism" comes from the term "romance", a medieval narrative in prose or verse that recounted heroic events.

7 - Rejection of absolutist systems

Romantic artists rejected absolutist systems such as religion, politics, and philosophy.

This rejection was the result of the French Revolution (1789), a movement against the social aristocracy and political norms. Instead, they argued that each individual should create their own way of life.

8 - Individualism

In romanticism, the individual matters more than societies. The individual conscience and, above all, the individual imagination are outstanding themes in romantic art. This is why the works of this period are full of scenes of introspection, which favor the individualistic character.

Curiously, many artists refused to exhibit their works in the great academic halls, claiming their own art in the form of manifestos and works of art that broke previous canons.

Similarly, artists of the period claimed that personal and individual experiences led them toward spiritual isolation, the preferred state for producing a work.

9 - Beauty

In general terms, romanticism sought to reflect beauty: on the one hand, they showed the beauty of individuals through emotions, since the ability to feel beautifies people; on the other hand, they showed the beauty of nature, using it as a means of expressing feelings.

10 - Everyday and exotic items

The artists of this period included in their works elements of daily life, such as the folklore of the country and realistic characters, who used a language full of colloquialisms.

At the same time, exotic or fantastic elements were included that were opposed to those mentioned above, giving rise to a paradoxical combination.

In the same way, gothic elements were incorporated that inspired terror. Examples of this are: "The Legend of the Headless Horseman" by Washington Irving, "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelly and the tales of the Brothers Grimm.

Main artists of the romantic movement

• In literature: the brothers Jakob and Wilhem Grimm, famous for their fantastic tales, stand out; Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, whose novel "Young Werther's Troubles" is one of the greatest representations of romanticism; Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein; Víctor Hugo, author of “Los miserables”; and the poets John Keats (British) and Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (Spanish).

• In the painting: William Turner and John Constable.

• In music: Beethoven, Joseph Villegas, Franz Schubert, Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn, Frédéric Chopin, Hector Berlioz, Richard Strauss, among others.

References

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