Romanticism vs. Formalism

Formalism is the view that art is meant to express specific scenes in history and is meant to abstractly depict things that can be explained. Formalism is the idea that art is factual and that the sole purpose of art work is to be factual. Whereas Romanticism is the view that art is not limited to things that we have experienced and that are real, but it is a gateway for new ideas and a depiction of new thoughts. Romanticism is not limited to the world we know and is also not meant to be factual but emotional. Romanticism is the best explanation for viewing art.  

 Explanatory Breadth –Romanticism explains more facets then formalism. Formalism is limited to facts and is very straight forward. Therefore it is very one sided unlike romanticism which can have many sides and make you experience many emotions. If you were to look at a work of art strictly as a formalist then you would only see one side of the story that is being told and you wouldn’t have an emotional connection to the piece you would simply move on once you have learned what is being depicted. Romanticism is very different; it leaves room for you to explore all sides of the work of art and allows the viewer to feel something deeply.

Explanatory Depth – Romanticism better explains the reason why an ancient work, let’s say of art from ancient Egypt, has lasted as long as it has. If everyone were formalists then we would have learned what we could have from the art and then thrown is away after all the knowledge was written down. But instead the works of art from long ago have lasted decades because most art historians are romanticists. There is a deep emotional connection we have to art work from the past because it has given us a glimpse into what our ancestors did and who they were.

Simplicity – Formalism has fewer parts and assumptions then romanticism because it is the short analyses of a work of art. Assumption is always seen in a negative light but it can be beneficial in many ways. If we never made assumptions about artwork we would never have answers or at least theories for some of history’s greatest questions. The Mona Lisa for example, we have wondered for many years who the mystery women is and what she is looking at. We would never have the theory that it is in fact da Vinci himself as a woman. Its only with the eye of romanticism do these options come into play.

Conservatism – Romanticism falls more relevant then formalism. Art is made today to not only be factual and tell a story but to make people feel a certain way perhaps even cry. When people look at murals commemorating great tragedy they aren’t doing so just to figure out what happened. We are well aware of the past and well educated on current events. Art work today is made to be enjoyed rather than analyzed for factual purposes.

Romanticism is the most plausible explanations of how to view artwork.

Formalism has much more simplicity and conservatism, whereas romanticism has a little more explanatory depth.

Therefore, Romanticism is the best explanation of how to view artwork.