Aesthetics of Art
Beauty is not simply when you "like" or "don’t like" something. But when it is captivating, when there are no words to express the emotions that fill the moment of contemplating this beauty. Even if the heart of the story is ugliness.
The concepts of "aesthetics" and "art" are inextricably linked. In defining the former, the latter plays a crucial role, and while contemplating a work of art, we seek its aesthetic beauty. Consciously or subconsciously. We are not always ready to explain what it means, but we intuitively feel whether it is present or not. The reason lies in the history of the term, which was introduced in 1735 by the German philosopher Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten. He based it on the ancient Greek word aisthētikos, meaning "sensory, perceived through the senses." Aesthetics cannot be described with words. We do not know what makes something aesthetic, but we feel when it is not. After all, aesthetics is a collection of factors, a system that operates far more complicatedly than we can explain. But one who masters this system truly creates something impressive. The powerful force of art is determined by its aesthetic essence.
It is said that aesthetics is the science of beauty. It is hard to disagree with this. But there is one "but": what is the beauty of the world? Is it about a flawless world oriented toward "artistic photography"? About perfect shapes, proportions, shades, angles? The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle emphasized the difference between "a beautiful face" and "a beautifully painted face." Here, beauty should not be considered as the ideal narrative used for a painting but as the artistic reproduction of this narrative. We can immediately empathize with the subject presented by the artist, but at the same time, we can enjoy the skill of revealing that subject. An ugly object can be beautifully presented in art. And thus, it can possess aesthetic value.
A striking example of the aesthetics of ugliness in art is the work of the Dutch artist, one of the greatest masters of the Northern Renaissance, also considered one of the most mysterious painters in the history of Western art, Hieronymus Bosch.
“The difference between this man’s work and the works of other artists is that others try to depict people looking outward, but he has the courage to show them as they are inside.”
‘The Garden of Earthly delights’ by Hieronymus Bosch
"Who would be willing to tell of all these marvelous, strange thoughts that wander in the mind of Hieronymus Bosch, which he embodied with his brush, and about these hellish monsters that are often more terrifying than pleasant for the viewer!" – wrote Karel van Mander in his book The Lives of the Famous Dutch and German Painters.
Despite the fact that Bosch's works repelled his contemporaries, everyone wanted to see them in person, to study the details, to analyze the plot. It seems that all the demons of our existence are depicted in his paintings. "The difference between this man's work and the works of other artists is that others try to depict people looking outward, but he has the courage to show them as they are inside." – wrote the Spanish monk José de Siguens about Hieronymus Bosch. Can such horror attract attention? Yes. Due to its aesthetic element. It is not Bosch's work that terrifies, but the motives he chose as the foundation. Fear grows when we realize how close these themes are to each of us and how relevant they are, both yesterday and today. The images of hypocrisy, lies, envy, selfishness, hidden motives, and destructive thoughts – all of this is presented so professionally, so deeply, with a cry from the soul. It is beautiful and aesthetic.
‘The Last Judgment’ by Hieronymus Bosch
Hieronymus Bosch’s technique is called "alla prima" – an oil painting method where the work is created in a single session: the artist finishes the painting before the paint completely dries. Art critics attribute 25 paintings and 8 drawings to the preserved legacy of Hieronymus Bosch.
The aesthetics of a work is not only its appearance but also the set of sensations and impressions it evokes. Aesthetics is about feelings. When we do not just observe a professional execution but contemplate it, new meanings fill us. Aesthetics takes place when it is deep, complex, ideological, emotional. When you look – and you want to look, to learn, to read the work like a book, and you cannot pull yourself away because it is hard to understand it at once. It is then that the author achieves the highest level in both the beautiful and the terrible. And it is equally wonderful. Aesthetics in art is achieved through the alignment of the work with the primary goal set by the artist. Was it possible to embody the work so that the viewer not only saw the narrative but also felt the thoughts, the characters, the atmosphere, and believed in the artist's work?