5. Defining Beauty 1

This lesson focuses on aesthetics, a branch of philosophy that contemplates beauty. It asks such questions as, what is beautiful and what is not? Is the question subjective or objective? Are there conditions that make a subject beautiful or is beauty simply in the eye of the beholder? What is the relationship between beauty and taste? Where does beauty end and taste begin? How do people develop individual taste? Does a rose by any other name smell as sweet? And so on.

In visual art, we use the elements and principles of design to compose artworks, usually (but not always!) with the goal of making something pleasing to the eye. One can mix together the right combination of elements to create beauty. A lot of this has to do with our shared psychology and experiences. Prof. Denis Dutton explains a lot our perceptions of beauty, and how they tie into evolutionary theory in this TED Talk:

Dutton argues that beauty isn't simply in the eye of the beholder, it's tied to our DNA. It's an instinct we've developed over many thousands of years, to seek out and venerate excellence in all its forms. This quest for excellence binds us together, regardless of where we are from, which is why so many different cultures share and appreciate each others' art. This is why so many of us commonly share similar opinions on beauty.

That is not to say we all share the same taste. We do not, and I write more about taste here. But, regardless of how much I enjoy watching Michael Jordan play basketball, or listening to Whitney Houston's music, or visiting public gardens, or watching Tiger Woods play golf, or hearing the Philharmonic play Mozart, I recognize excellence when I see it and hear it, and I appreciate the beauty of it. I would never call such things ugly. At most, I might find some of them boring.

So, what makes something beautiful or ugly? Good question, and a lot of this ties into composition - how an artist uses the elements and principles of design. This is a topic I intend to delve into deeply in a set of lessons. It's also important to note that the qualities that make a person "beautiful" versus a vase or a cat or a sunrise are not all the same. Beauty is another word for excellence, and with people that requires interior beauty: a kind heart, a wise mind, an impressive person.

But for now, it's useful to ask a few questions:

1. Looking at the subject matter, is it well cared for? 

The Gardens of Versailles, in France

Or does it look worn and dirty? Empty and uncared for? Is it in a state of decay? 

This is the view form Rte 1. in New Jersey, one of the saddest bits of road I've ever driven, pic from Google Maps.

2. Does the work trigger pleasant memories? Smells? Sensations?

A Lady with a Bouquet, by Charles Courtney Curran, 1890

Or is it ruined? Rotten? Does it trigger memories of awful smells and textures?

Or pain?

Daredevil Cover by Marko Djurdjevic

Or a really loud noise?

cover by Kelly Freas

3. Is the subject made from common, cheap, everyday materials? Was it mass produced?

The kind we'd normally use once and throw away?

The kind we'd find as litter on the ground?

Or, is the subject made or adorned with fine and rare materials, like gold and silver or fine gems?

The Tiffany Diamond Necklace

Or, does it reference the look and feel of gold or silver or any such finery?

Autumn Gold, by John Francis Murphy

4. Is the subject a natural material? If so, has it been fashioned by human hands in a skillful way? 

Or not?

5. If the subject is biological in nature, is it still alive and healthy? 

Huntsman & Herdsman, by Katherine Stone

Or is it dying or dead?

Icarus IV, by Katherine Stone

Or is it threatening? Poisonous?

6. If the subject is artificial, does it show great skill, creativity, sophistication, and craftsmanship? 

Guitar by Joachim Tielke, 1693

Does it show great ingenuity? 

Brass Automaton Clock by Will Carpenter, 1780

Or is it a plain and humble design... 

poorly constructed, and of questionable use or safety? 

Was it made carelessly?

7. Is the subject well lit, in a bright and cheerful manner? 

Drinking From the Fountain, by Jose Carbonero

Or is the light greyer?

Outside the Village, by Charles Harold Davis, 

Perhaps it's dark out?

Haunted House by Jamshed Jurabaev

Or is the subject dark and dismal, with no hint of natural light, as if the rest of the natural world no longer exists?

Water St. Hallway No. 2, by Kate Lehman

Note, with all these questions, it is possible to find or present these subjects in a beautiful way. It's a question of what the artist chooses to emphasize. Also note, these effects are cumulative. A musician playing a beautifully crafted instrument in a perfectly tended park filled with flowers on a sunny summer's day will surely illicit positive feelings. A pile of trash in the studio hallway will not. But then again...

White Trash (with Gulls), by Tim Noble & Sue Webster, 1998

Finally, there are certain design principles and tricks that artists use to make a subject beautiful: chiaroscuro, a limited color palette, bold gestural lines, symmetry, asymmetry, balance, rhythm, pattern, grace, and unity. All these concepts help, and all of them can be mishandled if you're not careful. But, use them correctly and you can make anything beautiful - even a piece of litter on the ground:

photo by Hermin Abramovitch

But, the main point of this lesson is this: We find beauty in skill and in excellence, but it's not that simple. What motivates people to develop skills and create excellence? The answer, more often than not is love. Look through all the images above where you find beauty, and you will find a labor of love, a quest for life affirmation through the creation of excellent, beautiful things. Places like Versailles or the Pyramids were not designed simply for money. It wasn't just a job. It was an aspiration made real.