The Romantic Period 1800-1850
The Romantic Era culminated in the time period between 1800-1850, during the Industrial Revolution, when there was a burgeoning rejection in Europe and America of the Neoclassical ideology of the Enlightenment period which focused on science and rationalism.
Romantics abandoned the long-time-held view that truth could only be attained through reason, which they felt could not explain the enigma surrounding life and the world around them.
Because of this, they sought discovery of self and spirituality; through nature, intuition, emotion and imagination in order to reveal their own truth. They believed that man had immense value and potential, which was reflected in the unfettered artistic expression, spirituality and emotional works of the visual, literary and musical artists of that time period (McKay & McKay, 2011).
Among these artists were American painters who founded the Hudson River School. Artist's Cole, Durand, Church and others were inspired by the Transcendentalist movement of the 1820's (McKay & McKay, 2011), believing that society, the material and the empirical defiled the purity of an individual, being confident that people reach their maximum potential when self-directed and independent. Having seen beautiful landscapes emerging from Europe, these artists set out to paint the untamed wilderness and rugged landscapes of a newly formed America (McKay & McKay, 2011).
Because of this, they sought discovery of self and spirituality; through nature, intuition, emotion and imagination in order to reveal their own truth. They believed that man had immense value and potential, which was reflected in the unfettered artistic expression, spirituality and emotional works of the visual, literary and musical artists of that time period (McKay & McKay, 2011).
Among these artists were American painters who founded the Hudson River School. Artist's Cole, Durand, Church and others were inspired by the Transcendentalist movement of the 1820's (McKay & McKay, 2011), believing that society, the material and the empirical defiled the purity of an individual, being confident that people reach their maximum potential when self-directed and independent. Having seen beautiful landscapes emerging from Europe, these artists set out to paint the untamed wilderness and rugged landscapes of a newly formed America (McKay & McKay, 2011).