Novalis

Novalis, born Georg Philipp Friedrich Freiherr von Hardenberg on May 2, 1772, in Wiederstedt, Prussia, was a prominent figure in early German Romanticism. Novalis hailed from a well-established noble family and pursued an education in law, philosophy, and the sciences at institutions such as the University of Jena and the University of Wittenberg.

Deeply influenced by the works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Immanuel Kant, Novalis integrated philosophical depth with poetic expression. His poignant and mystical literary style is best exemplified in his incomplete novel "Heinrich von Ofterdingen," which introduces the motif of the "blue flower" as a symbol of yearning and poetic fulfillment. His poetry collection "Hymns to the Night" explores themes of love, death, and the transcendence of the spirit, reflecting his profound spiritual introspection sparked by the early death of his fiancée, Sophie von Kühn.

Novalis also contributed to the fields of science and philosophy, advocating for a harmonious fusion of nature, humanity, and spirituality. Despite his untimely death on March 25, 1801, at the age of 28, Novalis' writings profoundly influenced Romantic literature and philosophy, leaving a legacy of seeking the infinite in the everyday and the ideal in the real.