February is all about romance! And what is more romantic than romanticism? Ok, admittedly not the same thing, but the focus on sense and emotions makes one want to celebrate it all year long! Romanticism in art was a movement that encompassed art, literature, music and even architecture.

Romanticism came as a rebuttal to the Age of Enlightenment and the sense of reason and order. With the progress of industrialization, many people felt that they were losing their individualism and Romanticism aimed at reversing that feeling, celebrating individuals, their connection to nature and how they experience the world. The ideals of Romanticism would fuel artists well into the 20th century.

“Romanticism is precisely situated neither in choice of subject nor in exact truth, but in a way of feeling.”
— Charles Baudelaire

Part of Romanticism is rooted in the French Revolution. The struggle for liberty and equality, current events and atrocities that genres before had stayed away from. Romantic painters used their canvases to shed light on the injustices of the day in ways not done in prior art movements. Romantic artists sought to bring together the ideal with the particular, evoking a feeling of spirituality of freedom and liberty that their paintings could convey and spread to the world.

Many Romantic painters also turned their attention to nature. Plein air painting was very popular with artists as they observed the nature around them, elevating the landscapes painting to a new level showing the respect the artists had for nature. Some romantic painters focused on humans being one with nature while others chose to show nature’s raw, unforgiving beauty.

Romanticism was not relegated only to paint on canvas. The movement could be seen across society, in architecture, literature and music. In opposition to the sober Neoclassicism, Romanticism valued individuality, inspiration and imagination. In a direct rebuke to industrialization, Romantic painters wanted to connect humans to nature and an idealized past. The movement endured and still inspires young artists to this day.

Art Event of the Month

PHILIPPINE ART: COLLECTING ART, COLLECTING MEMORIES
Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA

Celebrate the rich diversity of Philippine art with 25 compelling works recently added to the Asian Art Museum’s collection.


Art Attack is a fun and interactive art studio in the SF South Bay Area that provides instruction in the fine arts to children, teens and adults. Art Attack offers affordable South Bay art classes and painting year round to the residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. We have art classes for kids ages 5 and up with after school and weekend classes, as well as teen and adult art classes Monday through Saturday. Looking for a place to have a fun and unique party? Art Attack Burlingame also has Arty Parties which are perfect for any occasion: birthdays, showers, girl’s night out and even office team building!