Clive Bell

Clive Bell was a British art critic and philosopher known for his theory of aesthetics, which emphasized the importance of "significant form" in art. He argued that what makes a work of art valuable is not its subject matter or its emotional content, but rather its formal qualities—such as shapes, colors, and lines—that create an aesthetic experience. Bell believed that appreciation of art is rooted in this aesthetic response, which transcends personal feelings or social context, thus forming a connection between the viewer and the artwork itself. His ideas influenced modern art criticism and the understanding of aesthetic value.