ROMANTICISM

Romanticism: Emotion, Imagination, and the Self

Romanticism was an artistic and literary movement that originated in  the late eighteenth century and developed throughout the first half of the nineteenth century, particularly in Europe, with a focus on nations such as England, Germany, and France, and later spread to other parts of the world.

The Death of Daoíz in the Monteleón Artillery Park'

 in 1835.  by   Leonardo Alenza 

This movement emerged as a reaction against the Enlightenment and Neoclassicism, which emphasized reason, order, and logic as the primary ways of understanding reality. Romantic artists disagreed with this way of thinking and believed that reason alone was not enough to explain human life. And is for this reason that Romanticism placed greater importance on emotion, imagination, and personal experience. It valued artistic freedom, fiction, and the supernatural, moving away from strict rational rules.

Historical events, such as the French Revolution, along with political and socioeconomic problems, influenced the development of Romanticism. These changes led artists to wonder whether humans were really rational, and this questioning was reflected in their works through a strong desire to express emotional and personal experiences.

Characteristics of Romanticism:

1. Emphasis on emotions: Romanticism emphasizes feelings rather than logic and reason. The belief of romantic thinkers was that feelings and sensory experiences held more meaning than intellectual analysis and that emotions enabled a deeper understanding of human life.
2. Individualism and personal experience: At the core of Romanticism lies the emphasis on the self and human personality. Writers and artists delved into their own emotional states, reflections, and internal conflicts, prioritising personal identity and emotional profundity over societal expectations.
3. Imagination over reason: Romanticism believes that using your imagination is a way to find spiritual truth and have transcendent experiences. Creativity is seen as more important than logic, which allows artists to transcend reality and explore more profound meanings.
4. Nature as a source of inspiration: Romantic artists had a deep appreciation for nature's beauty. Nature was seen as powerful and inspiring and artist often connected it to their emotions and sense of spirituality.
5. The supernatural and mystery: Romanticism is marked by a strong interest in the mysterious, the exotic, the unreal and the supernatural. This includes being interested in things that are strange, unknown, folklore, the occult, and dark or unusual subjects,  things that can't be explain using logic or reason.
6. Rebellion against rules and tradition: Romanticism is a movement that rejects strict artistic rules and traditional forms. In this movement, an artist is seen as someone who creates things based on their own vision. Their personal vision and creative spirit are more important than having to follow the rules of art, society norms, and expectations.

Representation of Romanticism:

Romanticism included various artistic forms, it was characterized by multiple thematic focuses and stylistic approaches. A style within the movement that was one of the most prominent literary styles was Dark Romanticism, a subgenre focused on the darker aspects of human nature, such as guilt, madness, death, and the supernatural, often influenced by Gothic aesthetics. In contrast, painting and visual arts represented Romanticism in a more global and varied way.

When we talk about Romanticism,  some of the most famous Romantic writers that are usually mentioned are William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Edgar Allan Poe. To better understand the ideas of the Romantic period, the following examples illustrate key characteristics of Romanticism and help us appreciate the movement's art.

Literature:  Emily Dickinson

«I felt a Funeral, in my Brain… (340)»

"I felt a funeral in my brain,

And mourners, to and fro,

Kept treading, treading, till it seemed

Emily Dickinson portrays
Image courtesy of Amherst College
Archives & Special Collections. Public domain.

That sense was breaking through.

And when they all were seated,

A service like a drum

Kept beating, beating, till I thought

My mind was going numb.

And then I heard them lift a box,

And creak across my soul

With those same boots of lead, again.

Then space began to toll

As all the heavens were a bell,

And Being but an ear,

And I and silence some strange race,

Wrecked, solitary, here."

Source: The Poems of Emily Dickinson: Variorum Edition (Harvard University Press, 1983)

'I Felt a Funeral in My Brain' by Emily Dickinson is a Romantic poem because it focuses on intense inner emotion and subjective experience rather than external reality. The poem explores the speaker’s mental and emotional breakdown, emphasising individual consciousness and inner conflict, both of which are central Romantic themes. Dickinson conveys feelings of despair and psychological torment through dark themes and symbolic language, evoking strong emotional responses in the reader. 

Visual arts: Johann Christian Clausen Dahl

The following painting is titled  Shipwrech    by Johann Christian Clausen Dahl. As can be seen in the artwork, it represents a dramatic shipwreck scene. A destroyed ship lies submerged in turbulent and violent waters. Several small human figures can be seen near the shore close to the sunken vessel, appearing to observe, escape, or assist in the situation. In the background, huge mountains are rising up, and their tops are covered by fog or clouds. The colours are mainly dark and muted, with deep browns, greys and blues, which creates an overall atmosphere of darkness and storm.

"Shipwrech" by Johann Christian Clausen Dahl 

(1788, Bergen–1857, Dresde)1832 

Source: Dahl, Johann Christian Clausen. Shipwreck. Google Arts & Culture.

The painting is representative of Romanticism, emphasising the power of nature as a dominant force by depicting a violent sea and storm, which evoke strong emotions such as fear and anguish. The small human figures emphasise the vulnerability of individuals when faced with uncontrollable natural forces, which is a common Romantic theme. The dramatic movement of the waves and the dark atmosphere combine to create a sense of the sublime, combining beauty and terror. The meaning of the painting is also open to personal interpretation, reflecting the Romantic focus on emotion, imagination and individual experience rather than rational explanation.

Personal Interpretation:  My own interpretation of the painting's message relates to human difficulties, strength, and resilience. The work presents the sea and its power as a representation of pain, suffering, and all the difficulties that can bring us down, reflected in an element of nature such as the strong waves that constantly batter us. However, beyond the violence of the sea and the force of those blows, the painting suggests that it is possible to overcome and survive, which represents a great display of human resilience and resistance.

gurthermore, the work not only shows the struggle for survival, but also human ambition, visible in the attempt to rescue material goods in the midst of the storm and shipwreck. This reflects how, even in extreme situations, humans seek to preserve what they consider valuable. The painting not only shows the waves crashing with force, but also the presence of man facing and resisting the disaster depicted in The Shipwreck.

Music: Chopin's Prelude Op. 28 No. 4

Chopin's Prelude Op. 28 No. 4, from the Romantic era, shows the Romantic style through its strong personal feeling, not its careful design. The music progresses slowly, as if heavy with emotion, giving off a feeling of calm sorrow and emotional tiredness. Instead of moving towards a definite ending, the music stays in a painful state, urging the listener to face discomfort instead of avoiding it. This shows an important idea from the Romantic period: feelings are important even when we do not understand them or know how to deal with them. The piece feels more like a personal reflection than a public performance, as if the composer is revealing something too intimate to express directly. The music is full of feeling and thought, and shows how Romantic music can change feelings into art.

Critical Analysis of Romanticism:

The fact that romanticism emerged as a response to rationalism was a sign of great progress, not only in the expression of art and literature but also in the understanding of human beings themselves. It gave us the opportunity to focus on emotions, feelings, and even mental health, leaving aside traditional taboos such as the belief that feeling and thinking differently makes one “crazy” or mentally ill. Of course, the movement has been criticized for its tendency to idealize emotion and individualism, for placing more value on human feelings than on reason, because certainly everything in life needs balance, even in how we use emotion and reason. But despite the criticism, it is impossible to deny that romanticism was the gateway to today's world, contributing to the creation of a society where human emotions are valued and seen as essential rather than problematic, a society where more importance and attention is given to feelings and mental health.

Influence of Romanticism Today:

In the present day, romantic ideals still influence how people understand emotions, identity, and personal experience. Many modern books reflect the Romantic focus on inner feelings, emotional conflict, and individuality. Novels like A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara are a good example of this. They show how Romantic ideals are reflected in stories that focus on intense emotional pain and the inner struggles of the individual. These novels put feelings first and do not give rational explanations. In the same way, Osamu Dazai's No Longer Human looks at ideas of feeling disconnected from society, emotional weakness and the struggle between what a person feels inside and how they fit in with others. These are all important parts of Romantic thought. These modern works show how Romanticism is still important today, as modern literature continues to value strong feelings and personal experiences as key parts of what it means to be human.

Romanticism is also visible in modern society's approach to mental health, as well as in literature. Nowadays, it's more common to talk about anxiety, depression and emotional trauma. This is because of the Romantic belief that we should express our emotions instead of keeping them inside. Social media, poetry groups and modern music often encourage people to "feel deeply" and embrace their emotions. This reinforces the idea that being sensitive and aware of your feelings is not a weakness, but an essential part of being human. Although modern life still values logic, productivity and scientific progress, the continued emphasis on emotional expression shows that Romanticism remains relevant. It influences how individuals connect with themselves and others in the today's world.

References:

• Britannica Editors. "Romanticism". Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Dec. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/art/Romanticism.    Accessed 6 January 2026.

• Dickinson, E. (1998). The Poems of Emily Dickinson (Vol. 1). Harvard University Press.

• Dahl, J. C. C. (n.d.). Shipwreck. Google Arts & Culture.