Romanticism and the Bourgeoisie

by Sewit Haile

	Allegory of the painter, Gustave Courbet

Painting¹s used:

Liberty Leading The People- Eugene Delacroix,1830

Raft of The Medusa- Theodore Gericault- 1818

Women Sifting Corn- Gustave Courbet- 1850

Les Glaneuses - Jean Franco Millet-1857

Burial at Ornans- Gustave Courbet-1850

 

During the Romantic and pre-Romantic era's, it was necessary for painters to maintain a sense of independence and individuality, which was the main reason for the arrogant attitudes of many Romantic painters. It was crucial for them however to maintain their individuality because it determined how they were received and accepted by the Salons in Paris, which displayed their paintings to the public. The forceful maintenance of this mentality set the stage for the artistic"outburst"of anger by the French painters to the revolutions of the 19th century. The French painters began to paint about their own opinions rather than what they were commissioned for. The Bourgeoisie, who were middle/upper classmen, comissioned painters to paint a painting that they desired or wanted to display in their homes for their personal view or for other people to view. This was common in many Bourgeoisie households since the museum hasn't been invented yet, making it common for other people who walk by to peer into the house and view the painting for themselves. The romantic painters still continued to paint what they were commissioned for, which was a way to distract the Bourgeoisie and nobility, who were their commissioners, from unveiling the truth of Romantic paintings.The subject matter of the Romantic paintings were similar to the subject matter of the Pre-Romantic era in France, which helped mask the truth from the Bourgeoisie, who were very self-concious and analytical about their portrayal and the portrayal of other classes. The Bourgeoisie were able to adjust smoothly to Romantic paintings because they tended to focus on the colorful, realistic, balanced style of the paintings rather than its meanings, and were willing to accept a change in subject matter to a certain degree.

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