Neo-Romanticism: History, Characteristics, and Notable Artists

Neo-Romanticism was an art movement that began in the early twentieth century in Great Britain and peaked in the periods immediately before and after World War II. Neo-Romantic artists focused on how the Industrial Revolution—and modernity, more generally—alienated people from the natural environment. They often depicted the natural world in exaggerated styles to express inner turmoil, anxiety, and despair.

The Neo-Romantics didn’t operate with a cohesive manifesto or shared style, other than paying homage to the natural world. Here is a brief overview of this movement’s history:

1. 1. Post-Industrial beginnings: Neo-Romantic art surfaced toward the end of the nineteenth century as a reaction to the rising trend of naturalism. Rather than depicting humans in nature as they actually were, early Neo-Romantic art sought to depict nature in heightened ways to express specific points of view.
2. 2. Pre- and post-war anxiety: The widespread depression and unease preceding the Second World War and the disillusionment following it created the perfect conditions for Neo-Romanticism to flourish. By 1942, many works similar in perspective and tonality had emerged for writer Raymond Mortimer to coin the term “Neo-Romanticism” to describe the movement.
3. 3. Shift toward Pop Art. The introduction of Pop Art onto the scene during the second half of the twentieth century radically shifted the prevailing cultural tastes and interests, leading to the eventual decline of Neo-Romantic art. Learn more about Pop Art.

Neo-Romantic works of art share common moods and messages. Here are some of the most recognizable characteristics of Neo-Romantic art:

1. 1. A focus on nature: Neo-Romantic art often expresses a sense of yearning for a lost pastoral ideal and even attributes a soul to the nature it depicts. The landscapes of Neo-Romantic art often have a tortured or mournful quality to them.
2. 2. Expressionism influences: The Neo-Romantics took influence from the Expressionists, who often used landscape to portray internal feelings. As a result, Neo-Romantic art is deeply introspective and personal. Learn more about Expressionism.
3. 3. Blending the old and the new: Neo-Romantic art hearkens back to the Romantic movement but employs more avant-garde techniques. In Neo-Romantic art, you can often see the influence of Modernist artists like Picasso, who used non-traditional shapes and exaggerated elements. Learn more about modern art.

Here are some of the key differences between Neo-Romanticism and Romanticism:

• Chronology: Romantic movement writers and painters like William Blake and Samuel Palmer operated during the first half of the nineteenth century. The Neo-Romantics cropped up about a century later, using their forbearers’ techniques to comment on the modern era.
• Subject matter: Both movements concerned themselves with metaphorical representations of nature and critiquing industrialization, but Neo-Romantic art showcases the anxiety of the World War II era.
• Style: The Neo-Romantics’ art has a more modern feel than the work of the Romantics, though they shared a similar desire to cast emotionality onto the character of nature.

Here are some of the most famous Neo-Romantic artists:

1. 1. Michael Ayrton: A later practitioner of Neo-Romanticism, Ayrton relied heavily on mythology—and Daedalus and Icarus specifically—as tropes throughout his work.
2. 2. Eugene Berman: Eugene Berman was a painter and set designer especially adept at depicting loneliness, as he did in 1942’s La Petite Fortune.
3. 3. Robert Colquhoun: Colquhoun often painted farm laborers as well as more abstract and sparse compositions. The artist is also known for his artistic and romantic partnership with Scottish painter Robert MacBryde.
4. 4. John Craxton: Craxton was a big fan of both William Blake and Samuel Palmer. A focus on archaeology and the ancient world also permeates his work.
5. 5. John Minton: Minton was a studio mate of fellow Neo-Romantic painter Michael Ayrton and became incredibly prolific across multiple media. His painting Two Fishermen is a classic of the Neo-Romantic movement.
6. 6. Paul Nash: Associated with the Surrealist, British Modernist, and Neo-Romantic movements, Paul Nash was an early influence on his fellow artists—particularly in his depiction of war. Learn more about Surrealism.
7. 7. John Piper: Along with Graham Sutherland, John Piper was a central figure in drawing attention to the British landscape as a motif to evoke nostalgia. He is perhaps best known for his paintings of the bombed-out Coventry Cathedral during World War II.
8. 8. Graham Sutherland: In addition to his portraiture, Sutherland famously created the tapestry Christ in Glory in the Tetramorph in the rebuilt Coventry Cathedral.
9. 9. Keith Vaughan: Vaughan’s work was intensely visceral, such as his classic painting Communication of Hate.

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