Sentimentalism in painting and its features

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

Sentimentalism is a trend of Western European art that originated in the second half of the 18th century. The name comes from the Latin sentiment - "feeling". Sentimentalism in painting differed from other trends in that it proclaimed the life of a “little” person in the village as the main object, reflecting also the result of his thoughts in solitude. Civilized urban society, built on the triumph of reason, thus faded into the background.

The current of sentimentalism embraced such genres of art as literature and painting.

History of sentimentalism

The named trend in art arose in the second half of the 18th century in England. James Thomson (England) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (France) are considered to be its main ideologists in literature, who stood at the foundations. The development of the direction was also reflected in the emergence of sentimentalism in painting.

Sentimentalist artists in their paintings showed the imperfection of modern urban civilization, based only on a cold mind and not attaching great importance to the sensory perception of the world. During the heyday of this trend, it was believed that truth couldbe achieved not in the process of logical thinking, but with the help of emotional perception of the world around.

The emergence of sentimentalism was also an opposition to the ideas of the Enlightenment and classicism. The thoughts of the enlighteners of the previous period were completely reworked and rethought.

Sentimentalism as a style in art lasted until the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th century, becoming widespread in Western Europe. At the dawn of its heyday, the direction appeared in Russia and was embodied in the works of Russian artists. At the beginning of the next century, romanticism became the successor of sentimentalism.

Features of sentimentalism

With the advent of sentimentalism in the painting of the 18th century, new subjects for paintings began to appear. Artists began to give preference to the simplicity of compositions on canvas, trying to convey not only high skill, but also lively emotions with their work. Canvases with landscapes showed the tranquility, serenity of nature, and portraits reflected the naturalness of the people depicted. At the same time, the paintings of the era of sentimentalism very often convey excessive moralizing, increased and feigned sensitivity of their heroes.

Painting sentimentalists

Painting, created by artists in the described direction, reflects reality, repeatedly enhanced through the prism of emotions and feelings: it is the emotional component in the paintings that is paramount. Representatives of this trend believed that the main task of art is to evoke strong emotions in the observer,to make empathize and sympathize with the main character of the picture. This is how, according to sentimentalists, reality is perceived: with the help of emotions, not thoughts and reason.

On the one hand, this approach has advantages, but it is also not without drawbacks. The paintings of some artists cause the observer to be rejected by their excessive emotionality, sugaryness and the desire to forcefully evoke a feeling of pity.

Heroes of portraits in the style of sentimentalism

Despite possible shortcomings, the features of the era of sentimentalism in painting make it possible to see the inner life of a simple person, his conflicting emotions and constant experiences. That is why during the 18th century, portraits became the most popular type of genre for paintings. The characters were depicted without any additional interior elements and objects.

The most famous representatives of this genre are such artists as P. Babin and A. Mordvinov. The characters portrayed by them have a peaceful state of mind that is well readable by the viewer, although without excessive psychologism.

Another representative of sentimentalism, I. Argunov, painted pictures with a different vision. The people on his canvases are more realistic and far from idealized. The main object of attention is the faces, while other parts of the body, such as hands, may not be drawn at all.

At the same time, Argunov in his portraits always singled out the leading color as a separate spot for greater expressiveness. One of the prominent representatives of the trend was also V. Borovikovsky, who painted his paintings in accordance with the typology of English portrait painters.

Very often, sentimentalists chose children as heroes in their paintings. They were depicted as mythological characters in order to convey the sincere spontaneity and character traits characteristic of children.

Sentimentalist artists

One of the main representatives of sentimentalism in painting was the French artist Jean-Baptiste Greuze. His works are distinguished by the simulated emotionality of the characters, as well as excessive moralizing. The artist's favorite subject was a portrait of a girl suffering from dead birds. In order to emphasize the instructive role of the plot, Grez accompanied his paintings with explanatory comments.

Other representatives of sentimentalism in painting are S. Delon, T. Jones, R. Wilson. In their works, the main features of this art direction are also observed.

French artist Jean-Baptiste Chardin also made some of his works in this style, while adding his own innovations to the existing typology. Thus, he introduced elements of social motives into the work of the direction.

His work "A Prayer before Dinner", in addition to the features of sentimentalism, has features of the Rococo style and carries an instructive overtone. She shows the importance of female education for the formation of elevated emotions in children. With the help of the picture, the artist aims to evoke various feelings in the observer, whichcharacteristic of the sentimental style of painting.

But, in addition, the canvas is replete with a large number of small details, bright and numerous colors, and there is also a complex composition. Everything depicted is distinguished by a special grace: the interior of the room, the poses of the characters, the clothes. All of the above are important elements of the Rococo style.

Sentimentalism in Russian painting

This style came to Russia belatedly along with the popularity of antique cameos, which came into fashion thanks to Empress Josephine. In the painting of the 19th century in Russia, the artists combined sentimentalism in another popular direction - neoclassicism, thus forming a new style - Russian classicism in the form of romanticism. The representatives of this direction were V. Borovikovsky, I. Argunov and A. Venetsianov.

Sentimentalism argued the need to consider the inner world of man, the value of each individual. This became achievable due to the fact that artists began to show a person in an intimate setting, when he is left alone with his experiences and emotions.

Russian sentimentalists in their paintings placed the central figure of the hero in the picture of the landscape. Thus, a person remained in the company of nature alone, where the opportunity arose to manifest the most natural emotional state.

Famous Russian sentimentalists

In Russian painting, there is almost no sentimentalismmanifested itself in its purest form, usually connecting with other popular destinations.

One of the most famous works, one way or another made in the style of sentimentalism, is the painting by V. Borovitsky "Portrait of Maria Lopukhina". It depicts a young woman in a dress leaning on a railing. In the background you can see a landscape with birches and cornflowers. The heroine's face expresses thoughtfulness, trust in the environment and, at the same time, in the viewer. This work is rightfully considered the most outstanding object of Russian painting art. At the same time, there are clear features of sentimentalism in the style.

Another well-known representative of sentimentalism in Russian painting can be called A. Venetsianov with his paintings on pastoral themes: "Reapers", "Sleeping Shepherd", etc. They depict peaceful peasants who have found harmony in unity with Russian nature.

Trace of sentimentalism in history

Sentimentalism in painting was not distinguished by a single style and integrity, but gave rise to some features by which you can easily recognize the works of this direction. These include smooth transitions, refinement of lines, airiness of plots, a palette of colors with a predominance of pastel shades.

Sentimentalism started the fashion for medallions with portraits, ivory items, fine painting. As already mentioned, in the 19th century, thanks to the Empress Josephine, antique cameos became widespread.

The end of an erasentimentalism

In the 18th century, sentimentalism in painting laid the foundation for the spread of such a style as romanticism. It became a logical continuation of the previous direction, but also had opposite features. Romanticism is distinguished by high religiosity and sublime spirituality, while sentimentalism promoted the self-sufficiency of inner experiences and the richness of the inner world of one person.

Thus, the era of sentimentalism in painting and other arts ended with the advent of a new style.