‘Love of Beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is Art.’ -RW Emerson
This quote recognises the idea of ‘constructed beauty’ which could be defined as aesthetics. Beauty compared to aesthetics can be identified by where it originated from and how it came to be. Although, this can be contested with the cliché saying that ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’. This would therefore imply that beauty is a personal thing to each individual- meaning different things to everybody. A particular piece of art could be seen as ‘beautiful’ to one individual whereas to another, it could be hideous.
994×1310, Oils
Rockwell, N (1922) ‘The Little Girl with Lipstick’ Norman Rockwell Museum
In this piece ‘Little Girl with Lipstick’ By Norman Rockwell (1922) there is a girl holding a mirror, putting makeup on. The main focus of attention in this piece is the little girls’ eyes. She seems to look dreamily into the mirror. I chose to look at this painting for the topic of aesthetics as I believe the fact of the girl playing ‘dress up’ is according to her own perception of beauty. The makeup she has applied here may not have been done in the most ‘perfect’ or ‘aesthetic’ way as we can see her lipstick runs out of the lines of the lips and the rouge on her cheeks is patchily applied, but by the way she looks at herself in the mirror it can be told that she thinks it is attractive. She feels good and therefore, it makes it beautiful.
The ideology of aesthetics and beauty is subject to current trends, what is seen as beautiful now is very different to that of the medieval era. Although, this doesn’t mean work or imagery from around this time cannot be appreciated in modern day.
“Studies have shown that there are certain criteria, which are clearly de- fined and sometimes even measurable, that are perceived as beautiful and com- bine to form an impression of “beauty.” The perception of beauty is also strongly influenced by the media, however, and thus to a certain degree is subject to changing trends. “-C Borelli 2009
84×72 Inches, Oils on canvas
Jenny Saville, (1993), Trace, gagosian.com
To Conclude, beauty can be determined to whatever you wish it to be- it’s a personal thing and everyone will define their own meaning of aesthetic. Much like to work of Jenny Saville (above), where she challenges viewers by reinventing figure paintings. Jenny focuses in on the blemishes and marks left on women’s bodies and highlights them- challenging the ideology and previously constructed notions of beauty in society.
Reference:
Borelli, C. (2009) “Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder”? Aspects of beauty and attractiveness, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Journal of the German Society of Dermatology. DOI: 10.1111/j.1610-0387.2009. 07318.x
Emerson, RW, (1849) Nature; Addresses and Lectures, David McKay, Publisher, Philadelphia
Rockwell, N (1922) ‘Little Girl with Lipstick’ Norman Rockwell Museum
Saville, J, (1933) ‘Trace’ gagosan.com