Oscar Wilde, relevant figure of aestheticism
Estheticism stood out for being a very important artistic expression in England, especially during the last period of the nineteenth century. It is a movement that was based on the belief that art revolved only around the beauty of things.
In this way the ideas about social, political functions or any other type of motivation lost weight. It affected all possible artistic branches, from literature, to interior design, architecture or painting.
Estheticism represented in England the same as for French and Italian artists the symbolism or decadentism. In this sense, it was very common for decadentists.
Like almost all artistic movements, aestheticism was born by a denial to previous movements or ideas. He showed opposition to materialism and the rise that existed in the scientific area. The way to combat these ideas venerate the beauty of things.
One of the most relevant figures of aestheticism was Oscar Wilde, both for good and for evil. The English writer adopted aestheticism as a way of life, but was one of the great culprits of his decline years later.
Source
Estheticism was the movement prior to modernism. His starting point was in England in the mid -nineteenth century as a way to turn his back on the industrialization of things.
Like all artistic periods that have been experienced throughout history, aestheticism took some characteristics of some movements of the past and repudiated ideas from others. Although the central goal was always exalting the beauty of things.
During the 80s the natural aspects and the presence of floral themes took a lot of boom.
The opposition of the aestheticists with the Immanuel Kant was very evident. The philosopher raised during the previous century that art should be based on morality, the end of things and entertainment that they generated as rules to create artistic works.
The architect and designer William Morris, Pinto James McNeill Whistler, Dante Rossetti and Aubrey Beardsley were very important figures for the births of aestheticism as movement.
The painting was perhaps the branch that served to begin the period. Historians believe that this was due to the fact that it was the discipline in which the new idea of just thinking about art for its beauty could be fully reflected.
The search for beauty as a maximum expression made it common the use of simple strokes and the use of colors. The designers began to be very wanted and relevant characters.
Even fashion lived its particular revolution. They began to create dresses with lighter fabrics and designs that were not so rigid.
Characteristic
Without a doubt the main element of aestheticism is that everything was based on the beauty of things. Art had no other function than to simply be art. The idea that the works should be carried out for educational, moral or social purposes were left behind.
It was an answer against previous movements. The peacock was the symbol of this artistic period.
It is very similar to what in other parts of Europas was lived as symbolism or decadentism.
critics
Like any new idea, aestheticism was the focus of many criticisms. Those who showed themselves contrary to this movement complained that the idea that only beauty mattered and that the intellectual had to put aside was very banal. While other people considered it a movement of people with a lot of economic power.
The German writer Thomas Mann embodied his opposition to these ideas in the book Tristan.
In spite of everything it was a period that fell into contradictions. The artists during the aestheticism assured that beauty was not only superficial. They carried out philosophical processes to create their works or contents in cases such as painting or literature.
In the end, aestheticism even became a lifestyle beyond being an artistic period. Oscar Wilde was one of the greatest exponent of this commitment to aesthetic thinking both in his work and in his life.
Authors and representative works
The period of aestheticism had many representatives of great importance in the different branches of art. The English Walter Horathio Pater was very influential among writers, was William Morris who served in different areas, Dante Gabriel Rossetti was well known for his paintings or Stéphane Mallarmé for his poems.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
The Irishman was a very important character for the writing of the aesthetic movement. He wrote works of great popularity as the portrait of Dorian Gray or the nightingale and the rose. Although intentions is the work that most represents its link with aestheticism.
He was very criticized by other artists of the time.
John Ruskin (1819-1900)
He also highlighted in the area of literature. He was the author of modern painters, the seven lamps of architecture or the stones of Venice.
Walter Pater (1839-1894)
He was one of the most influential writers of the time. Mario work is one of the most important in the aesthetic period. French ideas helped their training and development in art.
Christopher Dresser (1834-1904)
Highlighted in the design part. A more industrial line followed. One of his most important works was the creation of a teapot that moved a lot to the design of traditional teapots.
George Aitchison (1825-1910)
He was an architect who worked for Frederich Leighton in the creation of his home. The work became considered the most important of aestheticism. He was considered a private art palace. All details about the furniture, fabrics, paintings and art present in the building were chosen with special attention.
Decay
The aestheticism reached its end in the last years of the 19th century. The trial that was held against Oscar Wilde focused on his homosexual relationships, especially with younger people. These relationships for the time were considered indecent or immoral.
The rejection of the homosexual increased after the trials to Wilde and the association with the aestheticism was very harmful to art. That is why the exponents of this artistic movement began to disregard the ideas of seeking beauty.
The book Degeneration, published in 1895 by Max Nordau, also had a very important role in which he turned his back on the aestheticism.
In the end, Wilde was sentenced to a couple of years of forced labor because there was a law that punished homosexual acts. While the end of aestheticism allowed the foundation of the first bases of modernism.
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