a movement in the arts and literature that originated in the late 18th century and peaked in the 19th century. It emphasized emotions, individualism, and the beauty of nature, in contrast to the rationalism and classicism of the Enlightenment period that preceded it. Romantic artists and writers were inspired by a sense of wonder and awe, and often depicted dramatic or exotic subjects. The style is characterized by its emphasis on emotion, imagination, and creativity, as well as a rejection of traditional forms and rules. Key figures in the Romantic movement include poets such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Lord Byron, as well as painters like Eugene Delacroix and Caspar David Friedrich.
