Romanticism as a cultural movement opposed to the principles of illustration
First of all we must know that romanticism is the cultural movement that opposes the characteristic principles of illustration, classicism, rationalism and illuminism. It is the result of the deep social and ideological crisis in the first decades of the 19th century, it also develops in Europe. Influenced literature, painting, music, architecture and politics. It should be noted that the main events that precipitated this change were: the English industrial revolution, which feels the foundations of liberalism, the French revolution, which proclaims the principles of freedom and fraternity and the American revolution with its declaration of independence, which makesThe rights of man its center and establishes the Republic as a form of government.
It is an era where thinkers begin to undermine the rules and the concept of reason, so used for years ago. Kant is the one in charge of demonstrating, through "criticism of pure reason", that the illustrated engine no longer served. The romantics protest against the imposed values and politicalocial problems and make their freedom the flag. It is a new way of living and creating that reflects a new attitude towards the problems of man. In addition, the working class triggers anarchist and socialist sign protest movements, with strikes and attacks. While in Europe the industry develops strongly and enriched itself culturally, Spain offers the image of a little advanced country and that is increasingly far from Europe.
In the nineteenth century people lived in general in rural areas, since having land represented the power of the nobility and was what supported the peasants. The nobility lived in large mansions, surrounded by servants. On the other hand, the kings lived in their palaces, spent money at will and in many cases they retained much of power. At the same time, much of the population had problems subsist and the State did not help workers. Therefore, the peasants began to emigrate towards the cities to find better living conditions, but most did not get their purposes and had to live very bad situations. In addition, there were great epidemics like the anger that could, kill thousands of people. In spite of everything, it should be noted that it was a century in which there was a great industrial development and great technical advances such as photography, rail or anesthesia also appeared.
However, the main characteristics of romanticism are individualism, that is, that the artist expresses an exacerbated egocentrism, the cult of freedom, since the individual proclaims the right to express himself, rebellion and contradictions, because the romantic always seeks aimpossible happiness and collides with reality. And finally nationalism against the universalism of the Enlightenment.
As for romanticism in Europe, we know that some countries like England set very well. In addition, it was the country where the industrial movement was developed more promptly. English romanticism strongly assumed a rebellion towards that new industrial and bourgeois society, and sought evasion through rural, historical past and exotic destinations. Industrialism and bourgeois life, of early appearance in Great Britain, acted as well as perfect excuse for the romantic spirits of the time to welcome this literary and philosophical current quite quickly. Likewise, English romanticism made its literary language that placed its bases in the feeling, subjective, and in the freedom of the artist the time of writing.
On the other hand, French romanticism lived for many years in a discreet background. The stormy political life of the country from the revolution to the restoration focused the effort of the country’s great writers in philosophy and politics, and almost no one questioned classicism promulgated by the Enlightenment.
Germany was in a difficult circumstance when romantic ideas begin to impregnate Europe. However, in a great reunification effort, Germany managed to make the concept of romanticism, which indissoluble the idea of the sublime indissoluble.
Romanticism in Spain took longer to arrive than in other countries in Europe due to the political situation marked by the absolutism of Fernando VII. There was a movement called pre -romanticism, a process in which many pre -romantic were exiled for their ideologies. However, Romanticism penetrates Spain due to journalism, since the first articles talked about the new movement and were published in the Absolutist newspaper, also thanks to the return of the liberal exiles to the death of Fernando VII and finally, the premiereof the work of the Duke of Rivas Don Álvaro or the strength of the sir. It should be noted that the main representatives of Romanticism in Spain were Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, Ángel de Savedra or Duke of Rivas, Manuel Bretón de los Herreros, José Zorrilla y Moral, José de Espronceda.
Romanticism ends in 1840 to give way to naturalism and realism.
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