The concept of aesthetic is a very difficult one to define and yet it is a word often heard within the art world. It is usually said that an artwork can be called beautiful based on the merits of its aesthetic value. But what is aesthetic exactly?
When I get stuck on a term, I generally start my investigation with a dictionary – where else? According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary (and a couple of others I referenced as well), aesthetic refers to “…pleasing in appearance…responsive to or appreciative of what is pleasurable to the senses…”* Granted, these explanations are very vague in the sense that they refer to a more subjective and even emotional response to whatever is being viewed, but it is a start to understanding the term.
The Ancient Greeks saw aesthetic as the stimulation of the five senses, but the word as we know it today is actually a philosophical term with a new meaning which was coined in the 18th century by Alexander Baumgarten. Baumgarten redefined aesthetic based on the idea of taste, thus connecting good taste with beautiful things. This in turn started the philosophical debate of aesthetics and taste – a debate which rages on until this day.
I have previously stated my opinion of what I think is “good art”** (if you like it, it is good art in your eyes which is all that matters for you as the viewer personally) but on a more formal or academic level, good taste is based on everything from mathematical equations to the impact an artwork has. What is definite is that the investigation of the term aesthetic has increasingly placed its focus on art.
My opinion is that in order to develop good taste, it is necessary to expose yourself to as much artistic and cultural stimuli as possible – whether it is through books, the internet or exhibitions, shows, talks and whatever else you can find. The more you are exposed to something, the more knowledgeable you will be about the subject and thus you will be able to make informed decisions about what could be considered to have aesthetic value.
I will revisit aesthetics again from a more technical perspective in the future, so keep reading– and enjoy the experience of discovering art and culture.
Blessings,
Mel
* I quoted the phrases most helpful in this particular case.
** Which is inevitably linked to good taste.
Sources:
Featured Image:
Waterlilies, Green Reflection, Left Part
Claude Monet
Oil on Canvas
1916 - 1923
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