The primary goal of The Germ periodical was to disseminate the ideas of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of English painters, poets, and art critics founded in 1848 2. The magazine, published in 1850, aimed to emphasize the editors' belief that poetry and art should be closely intertwined and focused on the importance of nature and the human imagination 1.
The Germ featured poetry, essays on art and literature, and contributions from both members and non-members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, such as Christina Rossetti, Coventry Patmore, and Ford Madox Brown 3.
Although the magazine only survived for four issues between January and April 1850, it played a significant role in promoting the Pre-Raphaelite movement's ideas and artistic vision 1.