Revolutions in the Arts Chapter 8 Section 4

Ideas of Romanticism The Enlightenment ideas of reason gave way to another movement called romanticism Romantic artists and writers turned from reason to emotion from society to nature Nationalism fueled the imaginations of the romantics Romantic beliefs: - emphasized inner feelings, emotions, imagination - focused on mysterious, supernatural, horrifying - glorified heroes and heroic actions - cherished folk traditions, music, stories

Romanticism in Literature Poetry, music and painting were the most influential arts Poetry was the highest form of expression Poems celebrated rebellious heroes, passionate love, and the mystery and beauty of nature Les Miserables & Hunchback of Notre Dame, Victor Hugo Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, Grimms Tales

The Gothic Novel Gothic horror stories were popular Fearful, violent and supernatural events Mary Shelly, Frankenstein

Composers Emphasize Emotion Emotion dominated the music produced by romantic composers From the tightly controlled, formal composition of the Enlightenment to the soaring celebrated heroism and national pride of the romantic period Musicians and composers became popular heroes amongst the middle-class Ludwig van Beethoven – Ninth Symphony Polish composer Chopin appealed to the hearts and souls of his listeners with dance rhythms Wagner brought European opera to a dramatic high point

A Shift to Realism Industrialism deeply affected everyday life in Europe Industrial workers lived grim lives in dirty, crowded cities Industrialism began to make the dreams of the romantics seem pointless Realism tried to show life as it was, not as it should be The arts now reflected the importance of the working class and described the workers’ sufferings

Photographers Capture Reality Louis Daguerre – inventor of photography William Talbot invented light- sensitive paper to produce negatives Negatives are used to make copies of a picture >>>>>mass distribution of gained a wide audience for the realism of photography Photography, scientific, mechanical and mass- produced, was the art of the new industrial age

Writers Study Society Honore de Balzac wrote about the struggle for wealth and power among the levels of French society in the his book The Human Comedy Emile Zola exposed the harsh working conditions in the shops, factories and coal mines during industrialization which spurred reforms of labor laws and working conditions in France Charles Dickens highlighted London’s working poor in many of his novels which were set in gloomy neighborhoods

Charles Dickens “Heart of London, there is a moral in thy every stroke! as I look on at thy indomitable working, which neither death, nor press of life, nor grief, nor gladness out of doors will influence one jot, I seem to hear a voice within thee which sinks into my heart, bidding me, as I elbow my way among the crowd, have some thought for the meanest wretch that passes, and, being a man, to turn away with scorn and pride from none that bear the human shape.” From Master Humphrey’s Clock

Impressionists React Against Realism Tired of showing the “reality” of life, French artists began to paint their impression of a subject or a moment in time Impressionism was the style of art that used light and pure, shimmering colors Impressionists showed a more positive view of urban society during the industrialization era Instead of abused workers, they showed workers enjoying themselves and glorified the delights of life of the rising middle class Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Renoir