Realism and Romanticism are two topics that we consistently come across in our lives. One offers escapism and ecstasy. While one brings us back to the harsh realities of our world. These concepts were developed in different eras according to need of expression at the time.
 
Romanticism emerged at the end of the Age of Enlightenment. The Age of Enlightenment also known as the age of reason is defined as the period of scientific, political and philosophical movements. Some causes of the Enlightenment included the focus on humanism during the Renaissance, Protestant Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution. Thinkers in Britain, France and all throughout Europe started to question traditional authority and wanted to improve the way the human race operates through rational change. The main focus of the Age of Enlightenment was reason, reason behind every aspect of life in order to to improve happiness. It also included many ideas that promoted liberty and a democratic society. Romanticism emerged at the very end of the Age of Enlightenment.  It was a response to the disillusionment with the Enlightenment values of reason and order in the aftermath of the French Revolution of 1789, in which the ideas of the Enlightenment played a huge role.
 
Whilst the Romantic movement was going on, the Age of Evolution had also started after the French Revolution. Society underwent a series of revolution in all part of life, political, military as well as social and cultural. Which were both effected by the romantic art mor movement, The main idea of Romanticism was the celebration of the individual and the glorification of nature. Romanticism produced some of the most famous artworks and pieces of literature. Art and literature in the romantic era were distinguished by an interest in human psychology, expression of personal feeling and interest in the natural world. A few famous paintings of the romantic era include “Liberty Leading the People” by Eugene Delacroix and “The Nightmare” by Henry Fuseli. Some famous poets of the romantic era include ST Coleridge, who is best known for his poem “Kubla Khan”, which is admired for its exotic imagery.
 
 The Realism movement succeeded Romanticism. It began as a reaction to Romanticism. Working in a chaotic era marked by revolution and widespread social change, realist painters and poets replaced the idealistic images and literary conceits of traditional art with real life events, giving the margins of society similar weight to grand history paintings. Realism in art attempts to represent the subject truthfully without artificially creating grandeur. A few famous Realism artworks include “The Gleaners” by Jean-Francois Millet, which depicts three peasant women working in a field. “ The Stone Breakers”by painter Gustave Courbet, which depicts a young and old man breaking stones.
 
In conclusion, Realism and Romanticism both emerged from a need of expression. Both of these artistic movements have had a huge effect on the society and culture at the time. We can still see the facets of these art movements today, in the way we think, in the way we perceive the world and in the way we govern it.