European Romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement that emerged in the late 18th century and flourished throughout the 19th century. It emphasized emotion, individualism, and the beauty of nature, often reacting against the rationalism of the Enlightenment. Key figures included poets like William Wordsworth and Lord Byron, who celebrated personal experience and the sublime aspects of the natural world. Romanticism also influenced various art forms, including literature, music, and visual arts. Composers such as Frédéric Chopin and Ludwig van Beethoven expressed deep emotions through their music, while painters like Caspar David Friedrich captured the awe of nature in their landscapes. This movement laid the groundwork for modern artistic expression.