Romanticism - 19th century

Originating in eaurope in the 18th century, Romanticism uses the power of nature and its redemptive qualities. It concentrates on making things more aesthetically pleasing than they realistically would be. It was a rebellion against established social rules and conventions.

Painting: Joseph Karl Stieler - 1820

This painting is oil on canvas. The artist has used oil to successfully create a realistic portrait, building up different layers of paint to create depth, shade and realism. Behind the figure the background is dark and without detail. This gives the background a mysterious and eery feel and also makes Beethoven stand out and appear glowing against the dull shrubs behind him.

This painting is a good example of how romanticism emphesises the beauty and the mystery of the man in the picture. Ludwig Van Beethoven was apparently an "ugly little man" http://fresh.amazon.com/AmazonProduct?asin=0060759747 and this clearly isnt what we see in the painting.The background of the painting contains trees and shrubs which isnt a practical place to paint a portrait or for Beethoven to be writing music, this shows how the artist has embraced imagination and emotion over reason. Also Beethoven has been made to look powerful and handsom. His actual image has been manipulated and changed to his liking as it would be done today in photoshop. His clothes are big and thick giving him a manly look with broad shoulders and big chest. His hands look soft and clean as he works on a composition. His hair is grey and old but is made to look thick and healthy. All of the lines are curved creating a soft flowing feel. The pose of the subject creates a triangle shape with the head as the pinicle moving down and out to the shoulders and elbows. In my opinion this successfully balances the picture as does the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is also drawing the audiences eye to the right side of his face where his cheekbone and jawline are very strong and also to his music book and hands. I can see that his manly facial feature and his composing hands are what the artist wanted the viewer to pay attention to. Most of the colours re very dark and haunting. This makes the red stand out and draw the viewers eye in as it underlines the subjects head. The red skarf also brings out the red in his cheeks. He appears blushing and healthy. The artist has been successful to create a very skin like tecture to the subjcts face. His hair looks like it would feel like soft hair and his clothes, expensive clothes. When it comes to the subject the artist has focused on making him beautiful but very realistic. The background is less realistic it looks misty and unfocused. This adds to the romanticism effect, adds mystery and lets the viewer concentrate on the subject without being distracted.

"Two Men Contemplating the Moon"

by Casper David Friedrich

Oil on canvas used, built up layers to create depth, atmpsphere and realism.

I think the colours in this painting are what first attracks the viewer. The soft warm dusty colours create a calm and somber atmosphere. The orange and yellow tones let the viewer feel the heat in the painting which is also emphesised by the orange moon in the centre background. These warm colours make it seem like the atmosphere in the painted location is very close and stuffy. This is emphesised by the curving tree branches that fill the page. The branches overhanging the subjects are much softer and fluffier looking than the wood on the trees trunk making them seem more protective of the subjects than haunting. The arstist has used a technique that gives the old trees, stumps and moss a smooth fluffy texture. Just like Steiler's painting of Beethoven, the beauty of the scene has been exaggurated to create an atmosphere that the viewer can enjoy and imagine experiencing. Again just like Steiler's romantic painting all of the lines in the painting curving and flowing beautifully. The moon in the painting is almost centered but still not our main focus. The artist used the rule of thirds to give the Subject closest to the left and the tree an eye catching position in the painting. Also the two subjects balance themselves in the painting by creating a triangle shape from their heads to the bottoms of their flowing cloaks. In this painting i think that the location and the atmosphere it created was most important to the artist whereas in Steiler's painting it was the subject that he wanted to show off. I think that the romanticism style in which they were both painted gave them both a very powerful effects.