Romanticism was a cultural and artistic movement that emerged in Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries as a response to the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, science, and logic. Proponents of Romanticism sought to celebrate the individual, subjective experience and rejected the depersonalizing effects of Western industrialization.
One way in which Romanticism reacted against Enlightenment rationalism was through a rejection of the notion that reason and logic were the sole means of understanding the world. Instead, Romantics embraced intuition, emotion, and imagination as equally valid ways of comprehending reality. They believed that the imagination and the emotions were essential for the creation of art and literature that spoke to the human experience in a way that reason could not.
Romanticism also challenged academic authority by valuing creativity and individual expression over adherence to established rules and conventions. This led to a renewed interest in folk traditions, myths, and legends, which were seen as more authentic and natural than the academic style of the time.
In addition, Romanticism rejected the depersonalizing effects of industrialization by celebrating nature and the individual's relationship to it. Many Romantics were drawn to the beauty of nature and saw it as a source of spiritual renewal. They often depicted landscapes and natural scenes in their art and literature, emphasizing the individual's emotional response to the natural world.
Overall, proponents of Romanticism supported the importance of individual expression, emotional intensity, imagination, and a connection to nature. They rejected the emphasis on reason, logic, and industrialization that characterized the Enlightenment era, seeking instead to celebrate the human experience in all its complexity and diversity.