Estetii

Estetii is a Romanian noun meaning aesthetes; the term is the plural form of estet, borrowed from French esthète. In Romanian usage, estet denotes a person who places a high value on beauty and sensory experience, often aligned with aestheticism, the idea that art’s value lies in beauty rather than moral or political utility. The term may describe participants in artistic circles, critics who champion “art for art’s sake,” or individuals noted for refined taste. The word is used in both neutral descriptive contexts and occasionally with a pejorative nuance by those who view aestheticism as detached from social or political concerns.

Origin and usage: Estet is a loanword from the French esthète, reflecting the influence of European aesthetic movements in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In Romanian literature and criticism, estetii appears especially in discussions of writers and artists who emphasize stylistic finesse, formal experimentation, and the appreciation of beauty.

Relation to broader movements: While estetii as a term is general, it parallels the broader European tradition of Aestheticism and the concept of the artist as an expert in beauty. It is distinct from the more politically engaged movements that foreground social issues in art.

See also: Aestheticism, Esthete, Aesthetics, Art for art’s sake.