French romanticism: features and general characteristics

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

French Romanticism was one of the key trends in 19th century literature. In this regard, France set the tone in Europe. Its writers and poets enjoyed well-deserved prestige in the international arena. Romanticism dominated at the beginning of the century. First of all, he was associated with the works of Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Theophile Gauthier, Francois de Chateaubriand. In this article we will give its general characteristics and talk about the features and main works of this direction.

Prerequisites for the emergence of a literary movement

French romanticism appeared after society at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries underwent a global breakdown. The main event was the French Revolution. The country experienced turbulent events in political and public life for three decades in a row. During this time, the Bourbon royal dynasty is overthrown, the Civil War unfolds in the country, then the republic is overthrown, and the Bourbons regain power.

All this hadinfluence on the development of literature, including the formation of French romanticism. For journalistic and artistic works, the rethinking of the results of all these events, the consequences of the revolution, was of decisive importance.

Theoretical justification

The birth of French romanticism is associated with such names as Anne de Stael and Chateaubriand. De Stael's treatise en titled "On Literature Considered in Connection with Public Institutions" played a role in shaping the aesthetics of the direction itself. He saw the light in 1800.

Giving a general description of French romanticism, it is worth noting that it was in this work that the idea of progressive evolution was first formulated. The author stands for the development of creativity, which should take place against the backdrop of changes in society.

In 1802, Chateaubriand came up with the same idea in The Genius of Christianity. In his treatise An Essay on Revolutions, written five years earlier, he reflects on what should be the image of a romantic hero. Chateaubriand argues that the revolution is inherent in man by nature, it identifies his inability to be satisfied with the state of affairs that exists around him. In this regard, Rousseau's doctrine of nature and civilization is of great importance for the writer. In it, the philosopher noted that he considers a person free only in his natural state, while in Chateaubriand the flight from civilization acquires a uniquely individualistic connotation.

As a result, earlyIn French romanticism, a suffering and lonely person appears, who cannot find comfort or peace anywhere. One of the first exemplary romantic heroes in world literature is Rene from the story of the same name by Chateaubriand. For this he is called the founder of French romanticism. René is the classic embodiment of world sorrow.

Second stage

In the 19th century, French romanticism continued to develop. Its second stage is associated with the Restoration, which took place in 1815-1830. The reaction that came in society was reflected in the novels.

The main factor that began to determine the literary policy is the opposition of classicism and romanticism. In this context, classicism becomes an officially recognized art, which turns into a weapon of political struggle. French Romanticism of the 19th century is the literature of the future and is strongly associated with renewal. At the same time, mystical and religious tendencies come to life within its framework.

Since the 1820s, magazines have been published in France, on the pages of which connoisseurs of a new literary direction enter into controversy. In 1827, all the most significant authors of that time united in the Senecal group. It includes Victor Hugo - the head of French romanticism, Alphonse de Lamartine, Alfred de Vigny, de Musset. They unite around the concept being studied, which seems to them a symbol of a new art, which should become the art of freedom and truth.

The birth of historical romance and the rise of drama

Telling briefly about French romanticism, it is worth notingthat one of its distinguishing features was the historical novel. The flourishing of historiography is associated with this time. Guizot, Thierry, Meunier, Thiers come up with the idea of regularity, which is actively supported by many intellectuals of that time. The special worldview and outlook of the French Romantics forms a new philosophy of history.

The consequence of this is the birth of the historical novel, which takes place in the 1820s. This is one of the main features of French Romanticism. Drama blossoms next.

The preface to the drama "Cromwell", which is written by the head of French romanticism, Victor Hugo, becomes a kind of manifesto. In it, he formulates the key principles of the new drama, as well as the five basic principles of romanticism itself. According to Hugo, these principles consisted in the right of the author to combine in one work the classical with the tragic, and the ugly with the beautiful. He opposed the rules of the "three unities", demanded that the writer be given absolute freedom in choosing artistic techniques and means. He also advocated locality and local flavor in texts, adherence to authenticity.

Third stage

Speaking briefly about French romanticism in literature in the third stage, it should be mentioned that George Sand and Victor Hugo become its main characters.

Hugo - a famous poet and novelist, played a decisive role in the social movement in France at that time and the development of literature. He reached the pinnacle of his career in the years 1820-1830, when he released social novels that made a lot of noise. Heacted as a reformer of the poetry of French romanticism, offering fundamentally new themes and rhythms that gave more space, freed from formalities.

The scheme of development of the drama developed by him destroyed the aesthetics of classicism that existed before. The previously dominant ideas about the unshakability of the aesthetic ideal and the artistic forms through which it could be expressed no longer existed. Hugo proved that the emergence of romanticism is due to the historical situation.

In his dramas "Ernani" and "Marion Delorme" there is a special type of conflict, character, composition, problems and language, which form the basis of the originality of French romanticism. He develops his ideas in the dramatic productions of Ruy Blas and The King Amuses himself.

The peak of his work for many is a novel called "Notre Dame Cathedral", completed by him in 1831. Also, the aesthetic principles of the romantic writer were voiced in the most famous works - "The Ninety-Third Year", "Toilers of the Sea", "Les Miserables", "The Man Who Laughs". All of them, with the exception of "Toilers of the Sea", are predominantly historical, despite the thematic, temporal and problem specifics. The events that form the basis of their plots, Hugo considers from the standpoint of universal concepts, opposing hatred to love, and evil to good.

With the help of historical color and in late French romanticism, he conveys a lively andrecognizable appearance of the era he describes.

Beautiful and terrible

This novel is perhaps the most famous in the author's work. The image of the cathedral, which the people created over the course of many centuries, comes to the fore in it. As a result, he became a symbol not only of the religious, but also of the historical and philosophical beginnings. In the character system, the three main characters are the street dancer and the gypsy Esmeralda, the bell ringer Quasimodo and the priest Claude Frollo.

In the image of Esmeralda, French romanticism in art was clearly manifested. This is a revival of interest in the personality of a person, which becomes one of the main features of the Renaissance. The writer uses contrast to set off the beauty of the girl against the background of the representatives of the social bottom, in the image of which he uses the grotesque.

Esmeralda's main antagonist is the Archdeacon of the Cathedral of Frollo. He can be described as a medieval ascetic who seeks to suppress living feelings in himself, despises ordinary human joys. However, love for Esmeralda makes him radically reconsider his view of the world. It turns out that he is unable to cope with himself, which makes him embark on the path of crime, clothing the girl for suffering and death. Frollo's retribution catches up in the face of the ringer Quasimodo, who, in fact, is his servant. When creating his image, Hugo once again turns to the grotesque. Describing the ugliness of his figure and face, which even cause outright laughter from those around him, the author demonstrates a striking contrast between his inner and outer worlds. Quasimodo also fell in love with Esmeralda, but not for her appearance,like Frollo, but for spiritual kindness. When the bell ringer's soul wakes up after many years of sleep, it turns out that she is beautiful. Quasimodo, who looks more like an animal in appearance, turns out to be a true angel in his soul.

The end of Hugo's novel is akin to a Shakespearean tragedy. Quasimodo throws Frollo from the bell tower, then enters the crypt, where he dies next to the body of the executed Esmeralda.

In this historical novel, one of Hugo's main goals is to convey the atmosphere of that time and the spirit of history. However, unlike W alter Scott, who has been called the father of the historical novel, the Frenchman does not put any significant event at the center of the narrative. Real historical characters become secondary, giving way to invented heroes. It is in them that he finds the contradictions of time, traces the movement of the trend towards the future.

In his novel, Hugo demonstrates the struggle of man with fate, inheriting in this the experience of ancient Greek tragedy. At the same time, the talent of the French writer allows him to create a work richer in content than follows from the idea that formed the basis of the novel itself. The expansion of the idea is connected with the appearance in Hugo of the image of the people. This is a diverse and colorful crowd, which the author paints with amazing talent and skill.

Painting

Naturally, romanticism in France manifested itself not only in literature, but also in other areas of culture. World famous artists of this period, who became prominent representatives of thisdirections.

Théodore Géricault is a native of Rouen. He was born in 1791 into a we althy family. He began to draw early, in 1808 he graduated from the Lyceum, becoming a student of Carl Vernet, a famous painter at that time. However, the young man soon realized that the style of the teacher was alien to him. He began to study with another celebrity - Pierre-Narcisse Guérin.

Learning from two prominent representatives of classicism, Gericault did not become their follower. Many are impressed by his early works, which are pathetic, expressive and as close to life as possible. In them you can immediately guess how the author evaluates the surrounding reality. A vivid example is the painting "Officer of the Imperial Horse Rangers during the Attack" of 1812.

Many of Gericault's works were created during the period when Napoleon was at the zenith of his fame in France. Many contemporaries bowed before the emperor, who managed to conquer most of Europe. This painting is written in the same spirit. It depicts a soldier galloping on the attack. His face expresses courage, determination and fearlessness in the face of probable death. The whole composition looks very emotional and lively. The viewer has a complete feeling of being on the battlefield.

Géricault's painting "Return from Russia" is well-known, which describes soldiers of the French army, who were defeated in the war of 1812, wandering through a snow-covered field. In this work, for the first time, the theme of man's struggle with death appears. It develops in the artist's most famous painting, The Raft of the Medusa. He painted it in 1819year, exhibiting at the Paris Salon. The canvas depicts people leading a desperate struggle against the elements of the sea.

The plot is based on real events. In the summer of 1816, the frigate "Medusa" was wrecked off the coast of Africa, stumbling upon a reef. Of the 149 people who were on board, only 15 survived. The details of the crash became known thanks to engineer Correar and surgeon Savigny, who were among the surviving passengers of the frigate. Back in France, they detailed their tragic journey.

In Gericault's painting we can observe plastic, dynamic and expressive images. The artist managed to achieve this only thanks to long and painstaking work. This is a masterpiece of French painting, in which many saw the reflection of revolutionary ideals.

Architecture

In architecture, a distinctive feature of romanticism is the emergence of fundamentally new materials, structures and construction methods. By the beginning of the 19th century, metal structures were becoming more widespread in France and England. To begin with, they are beginning to be used in engineering structures.

Widely used metal after the advent of cheap iron technology.

The creative problematics of romanticism turns out to be much more complicated than that in classicism. At first, it is individual in nature, promoting complete creative freedom.

The greenhouse of the botanical garden in Paris becomes a classic building of the studied style. It showed the originality of French romanticism. It was built in 1833becoming, apparently, the first building exclusively made of glass and iron. A little later, a similar greenhouse was built in the park of the Lednice Castle.

Sculpture

At the same time, romanticism is developing in sculpture. Romantic trends appear at the end of the Restoration period. They do not obey the aesthetic views that existed before, contradict the basic principles of sculpture, and make concessions to the new time.

Most sculptors use the new styles and practices, as did the painters of the time. True, as a result, it does without an academic order. Only a few adhere to a purely romantic direction in sculpture. The rest are trying to find a compromise with the classicists, who respect and imitate the antiques.

Among such representatives of the golden mean, Jean-Jacques Pradier can be noted. One of his most famous works is the sculptural group "The Satyr and the Bacchante". The presentation of this work caused a real scandal, as many recognized the sculptor himself and his former mistress in the characters.

Music

Romanticism in music dominated from about 1790 to 1910. During this period, works that belonged to this direction of art were perceived by listeners as the most emotional and passionate. Composers sought to express the richness and depth of a person's inner world with the help of musical means. Music at that time becomes individual and embossed. A variety of song genres are developing, including the ballad.

It is believed thatThe immediate forerunner of Romanticism in French music was the composer Luigi Cherubini.

Among the most famous French romantics, one should note the author of romances, orchestral, works and the opera "Carmen" by Georges Bizet. It was said about him that he has an amazing talent to nuance the power of sound, giving it a special and unique melodiousness. With different relief, he enveloped the melody with the harmony of transparent accompaniment.

Another prominent representative of this trend was Hector Berlioz. He is considered the creator of the romantic program symphony. His innovations in harmony, form and instrumentation created a real revolution in the classical music of the time.

In 1826 he wrote the famous cantata "Greek Revolution", which becomes a response to the struggle of the Greeks for their independence from the Ottoman Empire. In 1830, during the days of the July Revolution in Paris, the Marseillaise arranged by him for orchestra and choir sounds.

The "Fantastic Symphony" becomes his programmatic romantic work. In it, he reflects the subjective experiences of the artist, the theme of unhappy love within the framework of this musical work acquires the meaning of a tragedy about lost illusions.