Eugene Delaroix Libety Leading the People - Essay Example

Initially, the literature of romanticism referred to the romances characteristics, whose profligacy carried pejorative connotation in some way. The term however came to assign another type of exotic landscape in the 18th century that evoked the melancholy pleasant feelings. Throughout the early 19th century, romanticism remained an intellectual and artistic movement that is characterized by individual focus on the freedom from political restraints and social conventions, on the nature and human imagination in a typically idealized form.

However, most of the romantic authors had special interest in particular culture within the middle ages (Christensen 141). This paper therefore seeks to discuss the characteristics of romanticism and the liberty leading the people. Romanticism is particularly concerned with much of emotion than mere rationality. It put a lot of value on individuals more than it does to the society in general, and values nature over the city. Romanticism questions rules, social protocol and conventions. It figures out humanity as living in nature in form of a morally superior and a civilized humanity.

The literature of romanticism conceives children by nature as those corrupted by their nature of surroundings. It focuses on the expression of individual and personal emotions. Romanticism was not only evident in the literature in the 19th centuries, but also exhibited in music, art and architecture. The American Romanticism was influenced by the frontier promises of growth, expansion, and freedom. However, this spirit of optimism was not in Europe. Imagination led to emergence of the new perspectives and culture (Richardson 14).

Generally, romanticism has the following characteristics: Static characters with no development The setting and the characters are set apart from the general society Mysterious, incomprehensible, and irrational universe Causality gap A formal language Silences within the text showing universals instead of truths Justice for the good A plot that demonstrates honor and integrity, romantic love, and self idealism Supernatural visions The primary aim of romanticism included things like: belief in the humanity goodness and return to nature; the exaltation of emotions and the senses over intellect and reason; the nationalistic pride development; and the discovery of artists like a supreme creator of individual.

Nevertheless, romanticism was particularly a revolt of philosophy against rationalism (Richardson 21). Liberty Leading the People is a romantic painting. The painting was influenced by political and social events as well as historical conditions. This makes painting a reaction of the transformation and changes of the society. The liberty leading painting was painted by Eugene Delacroix in 1830. During this century, physical materialism, Neo-Classical, industrialism and quest of knowledge was brought about during this period.

Delacroix utilized romanticism in his art. This is due to its reflection of the current style of art. Romanticism combines violence, terror, and heroism, this makes war it’s an ideal vehicle. This is clearly depicted in the Liberty Leading the People in its depiction of the revolution of July 1830. Just like any other romantic art, Liberty Leading the People contains a sublime quality because it communicates intensity, grandeur feelings and greatness. Romantic paintings of