An art song is the musical representation of a poem.

It developed in 19th century Germany,

where it was called 'lied', or song. A group of songs was known as 'lieder'. Some composers wrote
series of theme-based songs, referred to as 'liederkreis'.
The art song has been the most important vocal form in the Romantic Period rather than the
oratorios and choral music. It refers to a composition for a solo voice and piano. The accompaniment
and the text or voice parts play an integral part in the composition. The emergence of this vocal form
paved the way for composers to interpret a poem’s mood, atmosphere and imagery to music.
Two things happened that paved the way for the creation of the art song. First, popular
German poets, such as von Goethe and Heine, wrote verses about love, the beauty of nature, and
even supernatural events. During the same time, the manufacturing of pianos with an iron harp made
for more expressive instruments. As a result, composers discovered they could transform the poetic
images into songs and use the piano to enhance and intensify their meaning. In general, the songs
were short pieces, and while many were suitable for amateurs to learn and sing in at home, most
were intended for trained artists to perform in the concert hall.

Characteristics:

 Short piece for solo voice

 Verses are well-written
 Through-composed (each stanza of the poem is sung to different music) or strophic (all
stanzas of the poem are sung to the same music)
 High artistic and literary quality
 Ends with postlude (concluding section played by the piano)

Composers:

 Franz Schubert (1797-1828) – composed about 650 lieder

- turned to an old ballad, or narrative poem or song for Elf King
(1815)
- Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel (1814)
 Robert Schumann (1810-1856) – composed about 160 lieder
- A Poet’s Love (1840)
 Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) – composed over 260 lieder
- Better known for his symphonies
- his best-known art song - Cradle Song (1868)

Sources: http://study.com/academy/lesson/art-song-definition-composers.html

http://musiced.about.com/od/faqs/f/artsong.htm