The Modern Breakthrough is the common name of the strong movement of naturalism and debating literature of Scandinavia which replaced romanticism near the end of the 19th century.
A meeting in the association Bogstaveligheden on 1 March 1882. Seated from left: Erik Skram, Georg Brandes, Sophus Schandorph, Holger Drachmann, Edvard Brandes, Viggo Johansen, August Jerndorff, Herman Trier, J.P. Jacobsen, P.S. Krøyer, Karl Madsen, Pietro Krohn, Kristian Zahrtmann. Standing from left: F. Hendriksen, Karl Gjellerup, Otto Borchsenius, Hans Nic. Hansen, Martinus Galschiøt, Laurits Tuxen, Harald Høffding, Michael Ancher. Drawn by Erik Henningsen,
Georg Morris Cohen Brandes was a Danish critic and scholar who greatly influenced Scandinavian and European literature from the 1870s through the turn of the 20th century. He is seen as the theorist behind the "Modern Breakthrough" of Scandinavian culture. At the age of 30, Brandes formulated the principles of a new realism and naturalism, condemning hyper-aesthetic writing and also fantasy in literature. His literary goals were shared by some other authors, among them the Norwegian "realist" playwright Henrik Ibsen.
Georg Brandes, sketch, 1900
Georg Brandes in his youth. 1868 drawing by Godtfred Rump.
Danish first edition of Brandes' Hovedstrømninger i det 19de Aarhundredes Litteratur – Emigrantlitteraturen from 1872.
Brandes in 1904
