Unit # 4
Discussion Board; Art an Ideologies
Instructor: Nancy Blair
Robert Long
American Intercontinental University

For a change, I am going to go out on a limb and talk about a subject that could and will bring out all sorts of things about you to the fore front, romanticism. These topics are all too often eluded because of our vulnerability, but let us examine this further. This movement began as an artistic and intellectual movement, that underscored a disgust against established values (you know social order and religion). This specific style instead exalted individualism, subjectivism, irrationalism, imagination, emotions and nature, this also valued emotion reason and senses over intellect. The Romanticism era was during 1790 – 1850 and during this era, these artists and theorists of the time were in rebellion against the existing social hierarchy and they favored the restoration of potentially unlimited number of artistic styles (basically anything that aroused their senses or imagination). Some of the artists that were of that era were William Blake, Henry Fuseli, Francisco de Goya, and Eugene Delacroix just to name a few of the big names of this time frame. Some of the works of art that were done during this time were; “The Tyger” by William Blake c. 1793, “Abel” also by William Blake of 1825. Another was done by an artist named, Eugene Delacroix, The Death Sardanapal in 1827 – 28. This information was found in the article by Charles Moffat – 2006, updated November 2010 “Romanticism”. Web site information found on is; http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/romanticism/arthistoryromanticism.html Our sense of romantic character is based on Byronic and romantic ideals. This reached beyond the rational and classicist ideal models to elevate medievalism and elements of art which was narratively perceived to be authentically medieval. All of this was done in an attempt to escape the confines of the population growth, urban sprawl and industrialism, but also an attempt to embrace the exotic and unfamiliar. In this type and style of art we find there is an attempt to harness the imagination as to envision escape, we do this placing an emphasis on emotion because through the emotion you can see the picture they illustrate on the canvas before you. This information was found on the web in the article “Visual Art and Literature” on the site http://www.romanticism-in-art.org/biography.html. For an example, like William Blake in the “Tyger” he utilized a poem, because through that poem he held the audience captive and was able to convey a unique message. I will illustrate this without a picture but paint one with a poem; “The Minds Quiet Place” Deep quiet
Envelopes this place
Only the birds can be heard
Singing
In the distance

It's a place
To unwind
And forget the toils of the day
A place
To really relax
And find yourself

Every day
We find such a place
If
But in the corners
Of your mind
We all know how to get there
But
Not what to do with it

In ourselves
Is a mechanism
That if released
Could let your spirit soar
But in retrospect we're afraid too

Afraid
Of finding ourselves
In the midst of enjoyment
Or in a place
Surrounded by peace
Or beautiful meadows
Or beside a river
Where the waterfalls are

Escape
Within your mind
And find the treasures of quiet
Amongst the turmoil’s of life
And...............Enjoy yourself
By Robert Long 2009 Through this era and through this movement you find that today’s painting in the essence of romanticism has evolved to some very dramatic pieces and some very interesting artists, like Thomas Kincade, the painter of light. He had the dynamic way of painting pictures that would come to life when you dimmed the lights, the highlighting would begin to move as if the picture took on life. He hide codes for you to find with in the picture as well so as you look back we do see that this type of art has evolved, Romanticism has progressed from romantic to romantic isn’t that great.
References
This information was found in the article by Charles Moffat – 2006, updated November 2010 “Romanticism”. Web site information found on is; http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/romanticism/arthistoryromanticism.html.
This information was found on the web in the article “Visual Art and Literature” on the site http://www.romanticism-in-art.org/biography.html