I am re-sitting in on a course in nineteenth-century art that I took at the beginning of my art history path as an undergraduate. In fact, it was largely because of this class that I decided to go into nineteenth century. For those of you who don't study art, the nineteenth century contains some of the most interesting intellectual developments, compelling historical movements, and without a doubt the best art in the history of the world. And when it is taught by such a brilliant and passionate professor as my grad school adviser, it is just the icing on the cake. So for the last few class periods, we have been "wandering" from country to country throughout Europe, exploring Romanticism. It looks a little something like this:
David Capsar Friedrich, Wander Above the Sea of Fog 1818
Needless to say, it is a great place to be. The only internal struggle I've had is that I majored in Humanities as an undergraduate, and Romanticism is simply a movement that if you are really going to study it, you need to get the full package- art, music, poetry, literature, and philosophy. While visual art reigns supreme as the best medium for much of history's artistic expression (there are some moments when it is bumped down, but it's always top two :) in order to truly experience the awe-inspiring effects of the Sublime in its total rawness and expression of emotion, it is best if you take it in with a little Beethoven.
So for my vast audience of art lovers out there, let me suggest a little Romanticism survival pack for you:
Beethoven's 5th and 9th symphonies-take an hour instead of watching a lame tv show and listen to them in their entirety, and do it with your eyes closed.
Goethe's Faust- Just read it, no further explanations needed
William Wordsworth- "Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey." This is of course good anywhere, but for maximum effect, hike into a favorite spot in the mountains, pull up a comfy rock, have a pencil ready (for notes) then have at it.
And in between all that, just enjoy (or experience the terrible pleasure) some of these:
J.M.W. Turner, Slave Ship 1840
Francisco Goya, Third of May 1808 1814
Gericault, The Charging Chasseur 1812
Caspar David Friedrich, The Abbey in the Oakwood 1808-1810
Girodet, The Deluge 1806
John Constable, View of Salisbury Cathedral 1825
Karl Bruillov, Last Day of Pompeii 1833
David Capsar Friedrich, Wander Above the Sea of Fog 1818
Needless to say, it is a great place to be. The only internal struggle I've had is that I majored in Humanities as an undergraduate, and Romanticism is simply a movement that if you are really going to study it, you need to get the full package- art, music, poetry, literature, and philosophy. While visual art reigns supreme as the best medium for much of history's artistic expression (there are some moments when it is bumped down, but it's always top two :) in order to truly experience the awe-inspiring effects of the Sublime in its total rawness and expression of emotion, it is best if you take it in with a little Beethoven.
So for my vast audience of art lovers out there, let me suggest a little Romanticism survival pack for you:
Beethoven's 5th and 9th symphonies-take an hour instead of watching a lame tv show and listen to them in their entirety, and do it with your eyes closed.
Goethe's Faust- Just read it, no further explanations needed
William Wordsworth- "Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey." This is of course good anywhere, but for maximum effect, hike into a favorite spot in the mountains, pull up a comfy rock, have a pencil ready (for notes) then have at it.
And in between all that, just enjoy (or experience the terrible pleasure) some of these:
J.M.W. Turner, Slave Ship 1840
Francisco Goya, Third of May 1808 1814
Gericault, The Charging Chasseur 1812
Caspar David Friedrich, The Abbey in the Oakwood 1808-1810
Girodet, The Deluge 1806
John Constable, View of Salisbury Cathedral 1825
Karl Bruillov, Last Day of Pompeii 1833
