TNTL 111

Toos Streng

'Waar waarachtige poëzij mij aangrijpt'. 'Oprechtheid' in de Nederlandse kunst- en literatuurbeschouwing rond het midden van de negentiende eeuw

Abstract - This article describes the rise of the literary pursuit of 'sincerity' and studies its place in Dutch literary and art criticism of the mid-nineteenth century. Most critics held that art was impossible without truth of feelings and experience. 'Sincerity', which should be distinguished from 'originiality', enabled the artist to surpass the copying of daily reality and to visualise and enliven the work. Besides sexe and nationality, an important aspect of the artist's personality was his religious conviction, which he should never deny.