Emotion: Romanticism celebrated the power of emotion and intuition as a source of truth and knowledge. This led to a focus on intense emotional expression and a rejection of the rationalism of the Enlightenment.
Nature: Romanticism celebrated the beauty and grandeur of nature, seeing it as a source of inspiration and spiritual connection. This led to a focus on natural landscapes and a rejection of the artificiality of urban life.
Imagination: Romanticism emphasized the power of the imagination as a creative force and as a means of transcending the limitations of the real world. This led to a focus on the fantastic and the supernatural and a rejection of the realism of the Enlightenment.
Spontaneity: Romanticism emphasized the importance of spontaneity and impulse as sources of creativity and authenticity. This led to a rejection of the neoclassical emphasis on rules and conventions.
The Sublime: Romanticism celebrated the experience of the sublime, defined as a sense of awe and wonder inspired by the vastness and power of nature or by experiences that transcend the ordinary. This led to a focus on grand and awe-inspiring landscapes, such as mountains, oceans, and storms.