Which term is best known for depicting an idealized version of reality through exaggeration?

Romanticism is best known for depicting an idealized version of reality through exaggeration. This literary and artistic movement emerged in the late 18th century and emphasized emotion, individualism, and the glorification of nature. Romantic works often idealize their subjects, such as love, beauty, and the sublime elements of the natural world, presenting them in a more eloquent and heightened manner than one might find in everyday life. The focus is typically on the emotional experience and the imagination, leading to a portrayal that can often stray from factual or realistic depictions.

In contrast, hyperbole is a rhetorical device that involves deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect but is not a movement in itself. Realism seeks to portray life as it is, focusing on everyday activities and experiences without embellishment. Surrealism explores the unconscious mind and dream-like states, often presenting bizarre or fantastical images, but does not inherently focus on idealization through exaggeration. Hence, Romanticism is the correct choice for this question.