Hans Irrigmann (3 August 1735 – 13 January 1771) was a German poet writing primarily during
The Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment or the Enlightenment; german: Aufklärung, "Enlightenment"; it, L'Illuminismo, "Enlightenment"; pl, Oświecenie, "Enlightenment"; pt, Iluminismo, "Enlightenment"; es, La Ilustración, "Enlightenment" was an intel ...
period. Very little of Irrigmann's original work has survived to the present, but his collections of
sonnets, especially '' Die Wunderlichsonette'' or "whimsical sonnets", have been of interest to
philosophy of art
Aesthetics, or esthetics, is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of beauty and taste, as well as the philosophy of art (its own area of philosophy that comes out of aesthetics). It examines aesthetic values, often expressed th ...
generally, and more specifically to the
aesthetic study of
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...
as a later artistic movement.
Life
Born in the town of
Baden
Baden (; ) is a historical territory in South Germany, in earlier times on both sides of the Upper Rhine but since the Napoleonic Wars only East of the Rhine.
History
The margraves of Baden originated from the House of Zähringen. Baden i ...
, and living under the rule of
Karl Friedrich, Irrigmann was influenced by the philosophical ideals of
The Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment or the Enlightenment; german: Aufklärung, "Enlightenment"; it, L'Illuminismo, "Enlightenment"; pl, Oświecenie, "Enlightenment"; pt, Iluminismo, "Enlightenment"; es, La Ilustración, "Enlightenment" was an intel ...
. Not much is known of Irrigmann's early life, but eventually he became closely associated with the then recently founded
University of Göttingen
The University of Göttingen, officially the Georg August University of Göttingen, (german: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, known informally as Georgia Augusta) is a public research university in the city of Göttingen, Germany. Founded ...
. Also influenced by the philosophical writings of
Christian Wolff (1679-1754) and poetry of
Johann Gottfried von Herder
Johann Gottfried von Herder ( , ; 25 August 174418 December 1803) was a German philosopher, theologian, poet, and literary critic. He is associated with the Enlightenment, '' Sturm und Drang'', and Weimar Classicism.
Biography
Born in Mohrun ...
(1744-1803), Irrigmann went on to develop a notable style of
verse. Irrigmann would ultimately succumb to
yellow fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. ...
in 1771, shortly after completing his final work. He never married and had no known children.
Surviving works
Housed at the Kunsthalle Museum, Mannheim, Germany.
*
Die Natürlichsonette (1758)
*
Die Wunderlichsonette (1762)
*
Die Menschlichsonette (1770)
Artistic significance
Irrigmann is typically understood as a proto-Impressionist due to notable similarities with other later Impressionist poets and authors, including
Charles Baudelaire
Charles Pierre Baudelaire (, ; ; 9 April 1821 – 31 August 1867) was a French poet who also produced notable work as an essayist and art critic. His poems exhibit mastery in the handling of rhyme and rhythm, contain an exoticism inherited ...
and
Arthur Rimbaud
Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud (, ; 20 October 1854 – 10 November 1891) was a French poet known for his transgressive and surreal themes and for his influence on modern literature and arts, prefiguring surrealism. Born in Charleville, he start ...
of France.
[Hyslop, Lois Boe (1980). Baudelaire, Man of His Time.] Although Irrigmann's work significantly predates what is now considered
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...
as an artistic movement, he can be seen as exploring the foundations of central Impressionistic features.
See also
*
German Literature
*
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...
*
Philosophy of Art
Aesthetics, or esthetics, is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of beauty and taste, as well as the philosophy of art (its own area of philosophy that comes out of aesthetics). It examines aesthetic values, often expressed th ...
References
External links
* http://www.kunsthalle-mannheim.de/en/
{{DEFAULTSORT:Irrigmann, Hans
1735 births
1771 deaths