The Age of Figurative Theo-humanism

Focusing on the theological discourse surrounding visual arts in Germany from 1754 to 1828, the author critiques the notion that German romanticism and idealism solely embraced formal beauty. The concept of "Aesthetics of Figurative Theo humanism" is introduced, tracing the evolution of aesthetic thought from Winckelmann's sculptural focus to the preference for painting as a means of exploring modern transcendence. This work challenges the perception that 18th-century aesthetics reduced rich meanings to mere "Art," emphasizing its deep roots in theological and humanistic contexts amidst modern disenchantment.