neoromantic

Neoromantic, often written as neo-Romantic, is a term used in art criticism to describe a revival or revival-inspired approach to Romantic-era aesthetics that appeared in late 20th-century and early 21st-century works across multiple disciplines. It signals a deliberate return to themes and sensibilities associated with Romanticism, such as individual expression, emotional intensity, nature, the sublime, and lyric narrative, often in dialogue with modernist or postmodern strategies rather than a single school.

In music, neoromanticism denotes composers who favor expressive melodies, colorful harmony, and expansive orchestration, aiming for immediacy and emotional communication. While drawing on late-Romantic tonal language, they may incorporate contemporary techniques or timbres, producing works that feel both familiar and contemporary. The label is used variably and does not denote a uniform compositional ideology.

In literature, neoromantic writing tends to foreground subjective experience, symbolic or dreamlike imagery, and a heightened attention to mood and memory. Prose and poetry under this rubric often emphasize inner life and nature, sometimes blending allegory with accessible language.

In the visual arts and film, tendencies associated with neoromanticism appear as lyrical landscapes, evocative color, and an emphasis on atmosphere over rigorous systematization, often inviting contemplation of memory, spirituality, and the irrational.

Because the term is applied flexibly by critics, its boundaries are informal and contested, and many works may be described as neoromantic without constituting a defined movement.