German Romanticism

Germany

Realized by Melissa Emmolo, Marta Massaro and Costanza Tocco, V 5

Romanticism

Romanticismin Germany

Novalis

Friedrich Schlegel

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Literature

Literature

Grimm Brothers

Hoffmann

Philipp Otto Runge

Caspar David Fredrich

The Nazarenes

Art

Alexander von Humboldt

Samuel Hahnemann

Johann Wolfgang Goethe

Science

Johann Christian Reil

Additionally, the Romantic emphasis on the unity of nature and the human experience influenced early psychological studies. Johann Christian Reil, a German physician, coined the term “psychiatry” and advocated for humane treatment of the mentally ill, integrating Romantic ideals of empathy and holistic care into medical practice

It's Jena!

The early phase of German Romanticism, often referred to as “Frühromantik” or Jena Romanticism, was centered around the city of Jena and included influential figures such as Friedrich Schlegel, Novalis, and Ludwig Tieck

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, although primarily known for his literary contributions, made significant strides in the field of botany with his theory of plant morphology, detailed in "Metamorphosis of Plants". Goethe proposed that all plant forms are variations of a single archetypal plant, a concept that influenced later evolutionary theories.

Friedrich Schlegel's "Lucinde" a novel that celebrated individual freedom and passion. The novel tells the story of Julius and Lucinde's love, depicted through Julius's reflections and experiences. Key themes include: • Romantic Love: The novel celebrates the ideal of romantic love, portraying it as a profound and transformative experience. • Individualism: Julius's introspective journey emphasizes the importance of individual emotion and personal experience. • Nature and Beauty: Nature is often used as a metaphor for the purity and beauty of love. • Gender Roles: The novel explores unconventional ideas about gender roles, including the fluidity and interchangeability of masculine and feminine qualities.

The movement also significantly influenced Germany’s national identity and cultural heritage. By focusing on folklore, mythology, and the medieval past, it fostered a shared cultural history and pride. This cultural revival was crucial for ta he unification of Germany in the 19th century, providing a common foundation for the diverse German-speaking regions. German Romanticism, therefore, left a lasting impact on art, literature, and national consciousness.

Roots

Alexander von Humboldt

Alexander von Humboldt was a pioneering figure whose explorations and detailed observations in works like “Kosmos” revolutionized the study of geography and ecology by emphasizing the interconnection of nature. His meticulous documentation of plant and animal species across different continents laid the groundwork for biogeography.

Sturm und Drang

Sturm und Drang comes from German, where it literally means "storm and stress." Although it’s now a generic synonym of "turmoil," the term was originally used in English to identify a late 18th-century German literary movement whose works were filled with rousing action and high emotionalism. The movement took its name from the 1776 play Sturm und Drang, a work by one of its proponents, dramatist and novelist Friedrich von Klinger. Although the literary movement was well known in Germany in the late 1700s, the term "Sturm und Drang" didn’t appear in English prose until the mid-1800s.

The poetry of Novalis, particularly the "Hymns to the Night," explored mystical and spiritual themes, reflecting the Romantic fascination with the infinite.

Samuel Hahnemann

Samuel Hahnemann developed homeopathy, an alternative medical system based on the principle of "like cures like". His work “Organon of the Medical Art” outlined the foundational principles of homeopathy, which sought to treat illnesses with highly diluted substances that in larger amounts would produce symptoms of the disease.

The Nazarenes sought to revive the purity and spirituality of early reanissance art, often depicting religious and historical figures with a sense of devotion and reverence. Their portraits were characterized by clear lines, bright colors, and a focus on the spiritual and moral qualities of their subjects.

German Romantic literature was a rich and diverse movement that emphasized emotion, nature, and the supernatural. Key figures like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, with his novel "The Sorrows of Young Werther," Werther is a romantic hero, he experienced life with intense emotion and his strong love for Charlotte and the pain of unrequited characterized the narration. The novel suggests a fatalistic view of life.Werther is not able to reconcile his interiority with the external world, culminating in his tragic end.

The Hülsenbeck Children

In this painting the children are depicted with a naturalistic precision, yet the composition and use of light imbue the scene woth trascendent quality. Runge's portraits often aimed to capture not just the physical likeness of his subjects, but also their inner essence and connection to the divine.

Wanderer above the Sea of Fog

This painting features a lone man standing atop a rocky precipice, gazing out over a vast, fog-covered landscape. It simbolises introspection and the quest for the sublime.

This literary movement not only highlighted the sublime and the mystical but also played a crucial role in shaping Germany's national identity and cultural pride.