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The Importance of Romanticism for Renate von Charlottenburg

This September, the Phantastische Bibliothek of Wetzlar, which presumably houses the world’s largest collection of fantastic literature (330,000 titles), is hosting a series of readings entitled ‘Fairy Tales of the Romantic Age’.
My drawings ‘Grimms Märchen neu gedeutet’ (‘Grimms’ Fairy Tales Reinterpreted’), ‘Märchen…and the City’ (‘Fairy Tales… and the City’) and other pictures will be on display at this event.

This raises the question:
What does the historic cultural period of Romanticism – in fact, the concept of Romanticism in general – mean to Renate von Charlottenburg?

It means that the individual is trying to distance himself somewhat from his rigid, rational ego and to see himself as part of the ‘greater whole’, as a being in the universe, among many other beings.
He does not diminish himself by doing this but retains his individuality for the enrichment of the whole, refining it all the way up to the highest poetic sentiments.

Sterntaler hier als Sternbuchstaben - Unikatt

Starletters

Hand-signed art print with small original drawing (unique), 29.7 x 42 cm
after an old Sterntaler fairytale picture by Viktor Paul Mohn (1842-1911)

And he is awed, he is overcome by the ubiquity and beauty of creation.
He moves to the edge of the great natural and, I might add, spiritual phenomenon. He may take part, though he is not the centre of the world but an observer, at best a neutral witness of the phenomenon, both in this material world and in the world of the subconscious and dreams.
By ‘universalising’ himself, he becomes one with all, with the other creatures as well, and he will approach them with love and understanding.

To me, this transformation of consciousness is the highest and true goal of Romanticism. It’s in this spirit that I love the fairy tales of that age and take pleasure in expanding and reviving them.


More posts from the series ‘Contemplations’: