Beauty is frequently defined as a subjective feature of certain objects which makes these objects pleasing to perceive. These objects include humans, nature, landscapes and works of art. It also includes emotional aspects like affection, admiration or respect. Beauty, with all the other factors of aesthetic sense, is the most important theme of aesthetics, among the various branches of applied philosophy. According to the established school of aesthetic studies, beauty finds its origin in nature.
The word ‘arteism’ derives from the Greek word ‘aesthetic’. The word is applied to artistic impressions in all fields. For instance, paintings are considered to be beauty, whereas music is beauty in the aesthetic sense. Poetry is beauty, and architecture is beauty in the architectural sense.
The term ‘Aesthetics’ is derived from the Greek word ‘aesthesis’, which means joining together. In the early times, aesthetics was related to education, where it became concerned with how things were constructed, where they formed and their arrangement. Later on, it became the basis for many philosophies, including religion and politics. In general, aesthetics is related to the study of man, his mind and his ability to attain his desires. It involves an evaluation of culture, language and society.
The leading concepts of aesthetics include the value of beauty, the idea of beauty within the human experience and the concept of art. The value of beauty varies from one culture and society to another. Similarly, beauty varies amongst different individuals, cultures and time periods. Thus, it cannot be said that beauty is static or universal.
Beauty, art and beauty in the human experience have become an integral part of social and cultural life, affecting human attitudes and behaviors. The beauty of a work of art can influence the attitude and behavior of a person towards other people, ideas, and thoughts. Beauty in art affects human emotions, causing joy, admiration, and sorrow. Beauty evokes the mind and makes people sensitive and receptive to the beauty of things.
The quest for beauty has manifested itself in various ways throughout history. The ancients found beauty in nature, in architecture, in artwork and in nature and in architecture. The Renaissance artists produced beautiful pieces of art using natural forms and colored glasses. The Dutch artists portrayed the nymphs, serpents and frogs in their beautiful paintings and books of magic.
Modern artists use different mediums to depict beauty and truthfulness in their work. Paintings, sculptures, photographic images, video graphics, and music are some of the mediums that convey beauty within the human being. The works of art by some of the contemporary artists have won international acclaim and admiration.
Beauty is subjective; therefore, there is no fixed definition or measure for beauty. It is subjective because it depends on the perspective of the person viewing the beauty. Therefore, while looking at something it does not necessarily mean that what you see is necessarily true and accurate. What you experience may not always be similar to what others experience. Nevertheless, beauty has a strong effect on the human being, making him attracted to beauty and thus to art.