Décadent

Décadent is a term often associated with late 19th-century artistic and literary movements, particularly in France. It describes a sensibility characterized by a perceived decline or decay in societal values, morals, and artistic standards. Artists and writers associated with decadence often explored themes of artificiality, perversion, ennui, and the exotic.

The movement emerged in reaction to the prevailing realism and naturalism of the time, which focused on everyday life and social issues. Instead, décadents turned inward, exploring subjective experiences, psychological states, and aestheticism for its own sake. They often embraced a style that was ornate, symbolic, and suggestive, preferring ambiguity and nuance over direct statement.

Key figures sometimes linked to decadence include Charles Baudelaire, Joris-Karl Huysmans, and Oscar Wilde, though the term itself can be applied broadly and is sometimes used pejoratively. The movement's influence can be seen in various art forms, including poetry, prose, painting, and theater, and it contributed to the broader Symbolist movement. While sometimes viewed as a sign of artistic innovation, it was also criticized for its perceived nihilism and morbid fascination with decline. The term itself carries connotations of self-indulgence and a departure from traditional norms, reflecting a specific cultural moment of questioning and artistic experimentation.