The Romantic period in literature and art began in the late 1700s and extended into the early 1800s. This era saw the rise of nation-states, increased social mobility, and people moving to cities alongside new technologies. Romanticism emphasized individualism, imagination, and idealization of childhood, families, love, nature, and the past. Key characteristics included expressive brush strokes, bold colors, a focus on light and middle-class subjects engaged in leisure activities like reading. Realism depicted ordinary people and events realistically without glorification, using accurate colors and neat brush strokes. Romantic paintings emphasized nature, freedom, and strong emotions through detailed renderings and calm color palettes showing the beauty and mood of nature