Estheticismo

Estetismo, also known as Aestheticism, was an international art movement and literary critical philosophy in the late 19th century. It emphasized the principle of "art for art's sake," suggesting that art should be judged solely on its own aesthetic merits, rather than on any moral, didactic, or social purpose. Proponents of Estetismo believed that beauty and sensory experience were the highest values in life and art.

The movement emerged in reaction to the prevailing Victorian emphasis on morality and utility in art. Estetismo championed individualism, subjective experience, and the pursuit of beauty as an end in itself. Artists and writers associated with the movement often explored themes of sensuality, exoticism, and the artificial, sometimes to the point of decadence. They sought to elevate the aesthetic experience, believing it could offer a refuge from the perceived ugliness and materialism of modern industrial society.

Key figures associated with Estetismo include Oscar Wilde, Walter Pater, and Algernon Charles Swinburne in literature, and artists such as James McNeill Whistler and Aubrey Beardsley. The movement's influence can be seen in various art forms, including painting, literature, decorative arts, and fashion, and it played a significant role in shaping the development of modern art and literary criticism. While its peak influence was relatively short-lived, its core ideas about the autonomy of art and the importance of beauty continued to resonate throughout the 20th century.