The movement of Romantism remains curious and obscure, as it was never intended to be otherwise. Due to its unique qualities, some historians refer to Romantism as the first true modern movement.

Romantism had been a response to the content and form restrictions of the Academic institutions, sponsored by monarchs and therefor associated with repression. But Romantism directly grew out of Realism.

Romantism aimed to convey invisible realities. Venues for this included the realm of dreams, myth, and nostalgia for earlier time periods, a reality beyond the five senses, steeped in subjective thought, experience, and emotion.

Romanticism encouraged subjective interpretation, the freedom to create new meaning and function for images, generating to a wide array of artistic interpretations, innovations, and styles.

Romantism existed in a context that extended beyond what people of the mid 1800’s had experienced. Weariness and pessimism about prospects had grown. Disenchantment and disillusionment about reality progressed.