French romanticism was one of the key areas in 19th century literature. In this regard, France set the tone in Europe. Its writers and poets enjoyed well-deserved authority in the international arena. Romanticism prevailed at the beginning of the century. First of all, he was associated with the works of Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Theophile Gauthier, Francois de Châteaubriand. In this article, we will give a general description of it and talk about the features and main works of this direction.
Prerequisites for the emergence of a literary direction
French romanticism appeared after society at the turn of the XVIII-XIX centuries was subjected to global breaking. The main event was the Great French Revolution. The turbulent events in political and public life the country experienced three decades in a row. During this time, the royal Bourbon dynasty is overthrown, a civil war is unfolding in the country, then the republic is overthrown, and the Bourbons regain power.
All this influenced the development of literature, including the formation of French romanticism. For journalistic and artistic works, the rethinking of the results of all these events and the consequences of the revolution was of decisive importance.
Theoretical background
The origin of French romanticism is associated with such names as Anna de Stael and Chateaubriand. In shaping the aesthetics of the trend itself, a role was played by a treatise de Stael entitled "On Literature Considered in Connection with Public Institutions." 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 advocates the development of creativity, which should take place against the backdrop of changes in society.
In 1802, Chateaubriand advocated the same idea in The Genius of Christianity. In his treatise "Experience 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 things around. In this regard, the doctrine of the nature and civilization of Rousseau is of great importance to the writer. In it, the philosopher noted that he considers a man free only in his natural state, while in Chateaubriand's flight from civilization takes on an uniquely individualistic connotation.
As a result, in early 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 René from the novel of the same name by Chateaubriand. For this he is called the founder of French romanticism. Rene is the classic embodiment of world sorrow.
Second phase
In the 19th century, French romanticism continues to develop. Its second stage is connected with the Restoration, which fell on the years 1815-1830. The reaction that occurred in society was reflected in the novels.
The main factor that began to determine literary politics is the opposition of classicism and romanticism. In this context, classicism becomes an officially recognized art, which turns into a weapon of political struggle. 19th-century French romanticism is the literature of the future, which is strongly associated with renewal. At the same time, mystical and religious tendencies come to life within its framework.
Since 1820, magazines have been published in France, on the pages of which experts in a new literary direction enter into controversy. In 1827, all the most significant authors of that time were united in the Senecal group. It includes Victor Hugo - the head of French romanticism, Alfons de Lamartine, Alfred de Vigny, de Musset. They unite around the studied concept, which they think is a symbol of the new art, which should become the art of freedom and truth.
The origin of the historical novel and the flowering of drama
Speaking briefly about French romanticism, it is worth noting that one of its distinguishing features was the historical novel. The flowering 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 outlook and worldview of French romantics forms a new philosophy of history.
The consequence of this is the emergence of a historical novel that takes place in the 1820s. This is one of the main features of French romanticism. Following the drama blooms.
A peculiar manifesto is the preface to the drama "Cromwell", which is written by Victor Hugo, the head of French romanticism. 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 were the author’s right to combine the classical with the tragic, and the ugly with the beautiful in one work. He opposed the rules of the "three unities", demanded that the writer be given absolute freedom in the choice of artistic techniques and means. He also advocated locality and local flavor in the texts, respect for authenticity.
Third stage
Speaking briefly about French romanticism in literature at the third stage, it must be mentioned that Georges Sand and Victor Hugo are its main characters.
Hugo - a famous poet and novelist, played a decisive role in the social movement in France of that time and the development of literature. At the top of his career, he was in the years 1820-1830, when he released social novels that made a lot of noise. He acted as a reformer of the poetry of French romanticism, proposing fundamentally new themes and rhythms that gave more space and freed from formalities.
The drama development scheme developed by him destroyed the pre-existing aesthetics of classicism. Previously prevailing notions of the unshakable aesthetic ideal and the art forms with which it could be expressed no longer existed. Hugo proved that the emergence of romanticism is due to the historical situation.
In his dramas “Hernani” and “Marion Delorme”, a special type of conflict, character, composition, problems and language are formed, 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.
The pinnacle of his work for many becomes a novel called "Notre Dame de Paris", completed by him in 1831. Also, the aesthetic principles of the romantic writer were voiced in the most famous works - "Ninety-Third Year", "Workers of the Sea", "Les Miserables", "The Man Who Laughs." All of them, with the exception of "Workers of the Sea", are predominantly historical, despite the thematic, temporary and problematic specifics. The events that form the basis of their stories, Hugo considers from the standpoint of universal concepts, contrasting hatred of love, and evil - good.
With the help of historical color and in late French romanticism, he conveys a lively and recognizable face of the era he describes.
Beautiful and terrible
This novel is perhaps the most famous in the work of the author. The image of the cathedral, which the people created over the centuries, comes to the fore in it. As a result, he became a symbol of not only religious, but also historical, and philosophical principles. In the character system, the three main characters are the street dancer and gypsy Esmeralda, the 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 a person’s personality, which becomes one of the main features of the Renaissance. The writer uses contrast to shade the beauty of the girl against the background of representatives of the social bottom, in the image of which he uses the grotesque.
The main antagonist of Esmeralda is the archdeacon of the Cathedral of Frollo. It can be described as a medieval ascetic who seeks to suppress within himself living feelings, despises ordinary human joys. However, the love of Esmeralda makes him radically revise his view of the world. It turns out that he is not able to cope with himself, which makes him embark on the path of crime, putting on the girl suffering and death. Frollo's retribution overtakes 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 frank laughter among others, the author demonstrates a striking contrast of his inner and outer worlds. Quasimodo also fell in love with Esmeralda, but not for her appearance, like Frollo, but for her kindness. When the ringer’s soul wakes up after many years of sleep, it turns out that it is beautiful. Quasimodo, which in its appearance is more like a beast, turns out to be a true angel in the soul.
The ending of the Hugo novel is akin to Shakespeare's tragedy. Quasimodo drops Frollo from the bell tower, then penetrates the crypt, where he dies next to the body of the executed Esmeralda.
In this historical novel, one of the main goals of Hugo is the desire to convey the atmosphere of that time and the spirit of history. However, unlike Walter Scott, who was called the father of the historical novel, the Frenchman does not put any significant event in the center of the narrative. Real historical characters become secondary, giving way to invented by heroes. It is in them that he finds the contradictions of time, traces the movement of the tendency toward the future.
In his novel, Hugo demonstrates the struggle of man with rock, 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 that is richer in content than follows from the idea that formed the basis of the novel itself. The expansion of the plan is due to the appearance of the image of the people of Hugo. This is a diverse and motley 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 spheres of culture. World fame was given to artists of this period, who became prominent representatives of this direction.
Theodore Gericault is a native of Rouen. He was born in 1791 in a wealthy family. He started painting early, in 1808 he graduated from the Lyceum, becoming a student of Karl Verne, the then famous painter. However, the young man soon realized that the style of the teacher was foreign to him. He began to study with another celebrity - Pierre-Narsis Guerin.
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 "The officer of the imperial horse rangers during the attack" of 1812.
Many works of Gericault were created at a time when Napoleon was at the zenith of fame in France. Many contemporaries worshiped the emperor, who managed to conquer most of Europe. This picture is also written in such a spirit. It depicts a soldier jumping into 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 creates a complete sense of presence on the battlefield.
Well-known picture of Gericault's "Return from Russia", which describes the soldiers of the French army wandering through a snowy field who were defeated in the war of 1812. In this work for the first time appears the theme of the struggle of man with death. She receives development in the artist’s most famous painting “The Raft of the Medusa.” He painted it in 1819 at the Paris Salon. The canvas depicts people waging a desperate struggle with the elements of the sea.
The plot is based on real events. In the summer of 1816, the frigate Medusa crashed off the coast of Africa, stumbling into a reef. Of the 149 people who were on board, only 15 survived. Details of the crash became known thanks to engineer Correaru and surgeon Savigny, who were among the frigate's surviving passengers. Returning to France, they described in detail the tragic journey.
In the picture of Gericault we can observe plastic, dynamic and expressive images. The artist managed to achieve this only thanks to a 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 begin to be used in engineering structures.
Metal is widely used after the advent of low-cost technology for producing iron.
The creative problems of romanticism are much more complicated than those in classicism. At first, it is individual in nature, promoting complete creative freedom.
The classic building of the studied style is the conservatory of the Botanical Garden in Paris. It showed the originality of French romanticism. It was erected in 1833, becoming, apparently, the first building exclusively made of glass and iron. A little later a similar greenhouse is being built in the park of 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 previously existing aesthetic views, contradict the basic principles of sculpture, make concessions to the new time.
Most sculptors use new styles and practices, like the painters of the time. True, the result is without an academic order. Only a few adhere to a purely romantic trend in sculpture. The rest are trying to find a compromise with classicists who respect and imitate antics.
Among such representatives of the golden mean, Jean-Jacques Pradier can be noted. One of his most famous works is the sculptural group Satyr and Bacchante. The presentation of this work caused a real scandal, as many recognized the characters of the sculptor and his former mistress.
Music
Romanticism in music dominated from about 1790 to 1910. During this period, works that belonged to this direction of art were perceived by the audience as the most emotional and ardent. Composers sought through musical means to express the richness and depths of the human inner world. Music at that time was becoming individual and embossed. A variety of song genres are being developed, including a ballad.
It is believed that the immediate predecessor of romanticism in French music was the composer Luigi Cherubini.
Among the most famous French romantics, it should be noted the author of the romances, orchestral works and the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. It was said about him that he has an amazing talent for nuancing the power of sound, conveying to him a special and unique melodiousness. With different relief, he enveloped the melody with a harmony of transparent accompaniment.
Another bright representative of this trend was Hector Berlioz. He is considered the creator of a romantic software symphony. His innovations in the field of harmony, form and instrumentation created a real revolution in classical music of that 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, in the days of the July Revolution in Paris, the Marseillaise he edited for the orchestra and choir sounds.
His programmatic romantic work is Fantastic Symphony. In it, he reflects the subjective experiences of the artist, the theme of unhappy love in the framework of this musical work acquires the significance of a tragedy about lost illusions.