Why did Verner von Heidenstam reject naturalism and utilitarianism?

Verner von Heidenstam led a literary reaction against the prevailing trends of naturalism and utilitarianism in Swedish literature during the late 19th century.12

Heidenstam rejected these movements because he sought to move away from the realistic, socially focused literary programs that dominated the era. In his influential essay "Renässans" (1889), he advocated for a renaissance of literature that prioritized fantasy, beauty, and national themes over the rigid, convention-bound realism of his contemporaries. By championing a more imaginative and aesthetic approach, he aimed to liberate Swedish writing from the influence of utilitarian philosophies and the strict observational focus of naturalism, ultimately fostering a new era of Neoromanticism.12