How did Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s love of nature influence Romanticism?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s profound influence on Romanticism stemmed from his rejection of the perceived artificiality of society in favor of a "cult of nature". By championing the natural world—including mountains, lakes, and gardens—as a sanctuary for the human spirit, he provided a vital counterpoint to the rigid reason prized by many of his contemporaries.1

Rousseau’s philosophy encouraged a shift toward untutored simplicity and the prioritization of innate feelings, benevolence, and sincerity over social convention. In works such as Émile; or, On Education, he argued that individuals should be raised away from the corrupting influences of urban life to preserve their natural state. His introspective writings, particularly the Confessions and The Reveries of the Solitary Walker, further solidified this legacy by emphasizing personal conscience and the emotional connection between man and his environment. Ultimately, his focus on the individual’s subjective experience and emotional authenticity became a cornerstone of the Romantic movement’s literature and philosophy.123