Single Idea 23927

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / B. Nature of Art / 1. Defining Art]

Full Idea

The danger of aestheticism is that the artist who has got nothing to do but make something beautiful hardly knows where to begin or where to end

Gist of Idea

Aestheticism invites artist to create beauty, but with no indication of how to do it

Source

Clive Bell (Art [1913], I.III)

Book Reference

Bell,Clive: 'Art' [nk 2010], p.24


A Reaction

Aestheticism strikes me as the main motivation for art nouveau artifacts, which I love. You start with beautiful lines, and then find ways to implement them. Bell has a point, though!