Aesthetics Movement

The Aesthetic Movement was a late 19th-century art and design movement emphasizing beauty and visual pleasure over practical or moral considerations. It championed the idea that art should exist for its own sake, valuing elegance, craftsmanship, and sensory appeal. Artists like James McNeill Whistler and Oscar Wilde promoted this philosophy, often opposing the more socially driven art of the time. The movement influenced painting, furniture, and decorative arts, encouraging a focus on refined aesthetics and individual expression. Its principles marked a shift toward appreciating aesthetics as a central aspect of art and design, promoting beauty as an end in itself.