The German Romantic movement emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries as a reaction against the rationalism of the Enlightenment and the industrialization of society. It emphasized emotion, nature, and individualism, celebrating the beauty of the natural world and the depth of human experience. Key figures included poets and philosophers like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, who explored themes of love, longing, and the sublime. This movement also influenced various art forms, including literature, music, and visual arts. Composers such as Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert created emotionally charged music, while painters like Caspar David Friedrich depicted landscapes that conveyed deep feelings and spiritual connections to nature.