How did existentialism come about?

Existentialism emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries as a response to the increasing emphasis on individual freedom, responsibility, and the search for meaning in a seemingly absurd world. Influential thinkers such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Heidegger contributed to the development of existentialist ideas, which focus on the importance of personal choice, authenticity, and the experience of individual existence.