John Ruskin

John Ruskin was a 19th-century English art critic and philosopher who profoundly influenced our understanding of beauty and art. He believed that art should reflect truth and moral virtues, arguing that nature is the ultimate source of inspiration. Ruskin distinguished between the sublime and the picturesque; the sublime evokes awe and emotional intensity, while the picturesque captures beauty in a more serene, composed manner. His writings emphasized the importance of observation in art, advocating for artists to engage deeply with the world around them, thus connecting beauty with social and moral concerns.