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What Are the 5 Magic ‘I’s of Romanticism that Shaped the Romantic Ideology?
- Sutithi
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
The 19th century Romantic era of art was more than just lovey-dovey creations. There were certain principles and ideologies that shaped and defined the movement.
The Romanticism art movement was more than a trend of that time — it was a cultural crusade that changed the way people perceived emotions, nature, imagination, and individualism. It deviated from the stark logic and rationality of the Enlightenment period, and the orderliness of Neoclassicism, to make room for unreal and imaginative ideas, interpreting dreams and venturing into the wild and sublime — a completely new horizon of artistic exploration.
Without these magical ‘i’s, we cannot fully understand the spirit of the movement. They are — Imagination, Intuition, Inspiration, Idealism, and Individuality.
These ideologies were reflected in some of the most iconic paintings of that time. In this blog series, we will discuss the 5 ‘i’s of the Romantic era that sparked the magic.
Let’s start now —
Romantic Ideologies: Opening the Doors to the Unexplored
When we imagine, we go off the beaten track. Imagination is to have ideas that open the doors to new possibilities and actions. Rather than moving towards logic, the movement focused on subjective truth, depicting emotions that were deeply personal.
Being the highest form of expression, imagination fuels creations. In Romanticism, much emphasis was given to the unlimited potential of our mind to envision a new world of fantasies and oddities.
Imagination: Artworks Showing the Heights of Fantasy
There are phenomenal artworks of the Romantic era showcasing the spirit of imagination, be it arousing hidden feelings or triggering the elements of awe. The spectrum of emotion was huge.
‘The Nightmare’ by Henry Fuseli (1781)
This was one of Henri Fuseli’s most creepy paintings, exhibiting his immense imaginative power. The uncanny oil painting shows a woman lying in a haunting pose, experiencing a nightmare, while an incubus sits ominously on her chest. To add to the ghastly aura of the image, Fuseli painted a hidden horse with glowing eyes emerging from the darkness.
These are the heights of fantastic imagination, pure psychological fantasy. The painting endorses the romantic belief that imagination reveals truths that cannot be explained through reason, just like fear, desire, helplessness.
‘The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun’ by William Blake (1805–1810)
“And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth.”
- The Bible
The Biblical reference of Satan from the Book of Revelation, 12:3-4 is portrayed in a dramatic interpretation in the work ‘The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun.’ Here the poet and painter William Blake blends spiritualism, myth, and imagination in equal measure to evoke a sense of mystery, fright, and vulnerability, while the demon eclipses the woman who will bear the child of God to save humanity.
Romanticist artists embraced the unreal and supernatural while exploring the power of imagination to the fullest.
2. Intuition: Going beyond Logic and Reason
Romantics believed that instincts and emotions can win out over logic and rationale, reinforcing the belief that often our heart knows what our minds cannot explain! The emotional truth was given utmost importance over logical calculations of empiricism and Enlightenment. That is the reason the Romantic era of art often evoked awe, sentimentalism, and personal emotions.
Wanderer above the Sea of Fog: Caspar David Friedrich Romanticism (1818)
This is one of the quintessential Romantic arts by the German artist Caspar David Friedrich showing the journey of a lonesome man, standing before a fog-covered landscape, gazing out at the horizon.
It depicts how the artist captured the power of landscape while painting a journey which is shrouded in mystery — just like the life of human beings. It doesn’t focus on any particular location on Earth, but the raw emotions and intuitive power of the human brain, assessing the wanderer’s sense of awe, introspection, and insecurity.
The painting makes the viewers feel a connection, where we often try to solve the mystery of nature and existence. Romantic intuition stems from an emotional journey.
3. Inspiration: Art Triggered by the Creative Energy of Nature
Nature’s forces and energy had always encouraged the Romantic artists, who were not inspired by classical rules but from overwhelming experiences such as lofty mountains, deadly storms, disturbing ruins, or deep personal crises. They believed inspiration challenges emotions into creativity and thus artists were moved by natural disasters, transforming the chaos and unpredictability into creative pieces.
‘The Fighting Temeraire’ by J.M.W. Turner (1839)
The eminent artist J.M.W. Turner was fascinated with marine painting, nurturing his brilliance in this spectacular piece of art showing a gigantic warship tugged away for dismantling, surrounded by purple clouds. The blazing sunset behind the ship makes the backdrop rather unreal and symbolic. JMW Turner Romanticism was greatly inspired by the idea of fading glory just like he had painted the setting sun in the shimmering sky.
His dramatic use of yellow, orange, purplish light and shadow captured the intense drama and the gravity of the moment. He was inspired to paint not the literal truths, but the deepest feelings of his soul.
4. Idealism: Values and Concepts Building Perfect Worlds
Another important aspect of Romanticism was idealism that focused on values and concepts. They were different from the idealism of Neoclassicism. Here, the ideals stemmed from emotional or spiritual ethics of purity, innocence, and moral truth.
Idealism has the power of lifting ordinary subjects into the heights of epic or mythic grandeur. It has a deeper connection with imagination and inspiration.
‘Liberty Leading the People’ by Eugène Delacroix (1830)
Eugène Delacroix’s Romantic masterpiece ‘Liberty Leading the People’ depicts the July Revolution of 1830, where liberty has been portrayed as a woman leading citizens across barricades amidst the protest and chaotic environment of the French Revolution. The scene involves chaos, drama, and passion embracing the truth. The imaginary woman, liberty, symbolizes people’s eternal quest for freedom.
This Romantic ideology transformed political struggle into a source of inspiration.
5. Individuality: Rise of an Individual Hero
The age of Romanticism also experienced the human potential, the feelings of something innately personal. The artists believed that true art was born out of personal experience and understanding. Self-expression became equally important, portraying authentic, unapologetic truth and heroic feats. Artists became visionaries, rebels, and philosophers, taking full control of their canvases, unlike working for projects commissioned by the patrons.
‘The Third of May 1808’ (1814): Francisco Goya Romanticism
Goya’s dark paintings always trigger the most troubled emotions, with a raw, emotional energy, just like in the oil painting ‘The Third of May 1808.’ The image portrays an intense, raw energy to immortalize individual courage and quest for freedom. The disturbing portrayal of a Spanish rebel executed by Napoleon’s troops paints the scary truth of humanity. Light shines on the martyr-like figure, who raises his arm as a sign of protest, a testimony to human suffering.
And the whole scenario depicted by Francisco Goya was not a mere historical record but a deep personal response to the macabre truth he witnessed. His individual take on this historical event honors the heroic spirit that was a major aspect of the movement.
Why the Five ‘I’s of the Romantic Era of Art Makes Sense Even Today
The 19th century Romantic fever had died down over the last two centuries, giving way to newer art trends, but the 5 ‘i’s continue to impact creative expressions until today — be it the sphere of literature, cinema, art, photography, or digital media. Contemporary artists still find the Romantic ideologies relevant and constructive.
"Imagination" to think beyond the ordinary
"Intuition" to look beyond the realm of logic
"Inspiration" to capture the power of emotions
"Idealism" to respect the values and views
"Individuality" to construct personal narratives of triumphs and trepidations.
To sum it up, the Romantic movement, despite its brief stint with art, left a legacy that reshaped the very process of creation. The 5 ‘i’s continue to impact and inspire the artistic landscape even today.
Stay tuned for more such fascinating stories in our next series on Romanticism artists; we'll explore some lesser-known facts about them ...