10 Most Important Cultural Events Of The 19th-Century

The 19th century was kind of a turning point in the history of the world. It brought us a series of groundbreaking changes, such as the abolishment of slavery, machines slowly replacing human labor, and a series of inventions that eventually led us to the world as we know it now. This century also had plenty of interesting turns in terms of culture, leaving a bright mark in the history of art and literature.

The birth of Romanticism

Goethe in the Roman Campagna (1787) by Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein. Oil on canvas, 164 cm x 206 cm. Source: Wikipedia Commons.

The early 19th century saw the rise of the Romanticism movement in art and literature. The new literary and artworks embodied the Romantic, more sensible feelings than their predecessors. It also strongly relied on warm-hearted feelings toward national history, myths, and legends. The admiration for these aspects was very popular in the German Romanticist works, who became the trendsetters of this movement. Such interest in local history became the driving force in the birth of nationalism idea. Artists began to display signs of admiration for their heritage, hiding various symbolic ideas in their works.

Richard Wagner completes his most famous work

The German composer had a rebellious mind, spending many years in exile. However, the admiration from the Bavarian King Ludwig II changed his career for good. King was a huge fan of Wagner’s works, and Ludwig II did everything to help the German composer complete his ideas. In 1874, Wagner completed the cycle, The Ring of the Nibelung. It’s an epic cycle of four musical dramas (The Rhinegold, The Valkyrie, Siegfried, and Twilight of the Gods) based on Germanic heroic legends. It was the peak musical work of German Romanticism, fully complying with the idea of strong national sentiments.

Goethe’s Faust

While Wagner cemented his legacy among the greats of German culture in music, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe became its most renowned name in literature. In 1808, he published Faust — a tragic play about the Devil who challenges God and tries to pursue a scholar into selling his soul. Goethe’s work has been translated into several languages and reproduced in various theatre plays, opera, and cinematic adaptations. It has been a highly inspirational work and is considered one of the finest examples of German literature.

The birth of nationalism

The 19th century became a turning point in the self-evaluation of the many European nations under the oppression of the Russian, Austrian, Prussian, and Ottoman Empires. The national idea and identity became a focal point in the eyes of many artists, who displayed sentiments and pride about their origins through art and literary works. Creative figures such as Adam Mickiewicz, Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald, and Sandor Petőfi became the national poets of their nations and inspired contemporary artists to embody the national sentiments in their works. It became a strong driving force for the rise of the Romanticism movement.

Beethoven’s Symphony №5

Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven when composing the Missa Solemnis (1820) by Karl Joseph Stieler. Oil on canvas, 62 cm x 50 cm. Source: Wikipedia Commons.

On 22 December 1808, Ludwig van Beethoven held his most remarkable concert in the Vienna theatre, presenting to the audience his Fifth Symphony. It became the most popular and influential of all his musical works — timeless and easy to recognize. Symphony №5 might be one of the most-played symphonies in the history of music. Its motifs have been used in the production of musical pieces and the atmospheric element in cinematic works.

Karl Marx publishes Das Capital

The German philosopher and the father of many revolutionary ideas, indeed, managed to create an immense impact on the course of the world’s history that can be seen up to this day. In 1867, Karl Marx published the first volume of his famous work — Das Capital. Alongside The Communist Manifesto, published in 1848, the criticism of the capitalist system in Das Capital became one of the most influential works of the 19th century. The figure of Marx eventually became the symbol of the working-class uprisings and revolutions around the world. There have been plenty of praises and criticism of his views, but it is impossible to deny the power and impact that the works of Marx had.

Tolstoy publishes War & Peace

In 1869, the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy published his monumental work — War & Peace. It was the chronicle of the French invasion of Russia during Napoleon’s era, as well as the legacy of Catherine the Great and her requirement for the nobility to learn the French language. Throughout the years, War & Peace became a classic and is still renowned as one of the all-time great literary works. It was later adapted into an award-winning movie directed by the Soviet film director Sergei Bondarchuk.

The birth of Impressionism

Los Mayos (1898) by Ignacio Pinazo Camarlench. Oil on canvas, 70.6 cm x 98.8 cm. Source: Wikipedia Commons.

Overall, the 19th century saw a mix of various art movements inspired by different events. It was a century of wars, revolutions, and the rise of national sentiments. However, the second part of this century saw a shift in the perception of the artist’s emotions, and Impressionists went on to challenge the academic approach. In a way, it was the first step toward the lazy approach in art, and unfortunately, it later paved the way for the variety of movements that did not appreciate the true craft of the artist anymore. A century later, the meaning of art was tarnished entirely, and we saw the rise of pseudo-art.

The opening of the Eiffel Tower

On 31 March 1889, the Parisians saw the opening of the now iconic Eiffel Tower, which was built for the 1889 World’s Fair. At the time, it was loudly criticized by the local artists because of the design, and there were proponents of its demolition. However, the Eiffel Tower survived all the controversies and eventually became one of the iconic and trademark buildings of the French capital. It has been a popular destination for tourists, and yearly, millions continue to visit this tower, named in honor of Gustave Eiffel.

Lumiere brothers presented the first projected film

On 28 December 1895, the French brothers Auguste and Louis Lumiere did the first commercial public screening at Salon Indien du Grand Cafe in Paris. This event marked the beginning of cinema as an industry. Similarly to literature and art, cinematic works became another creative-class product that could bring the filmmaker not just aesthetic pleasure but also a good income. Lumiere brothers set the foundations for the later rapidly-growing industry that eventually brings billions of dollars yearly.

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