beaute

Beaute is the French noun for beauty, the quality or state of being beautiful. It derives from Old French beauté, from bel/belle, related to Latin bellus meaning pretty or charming. In modern French, beauté can denote aesthetic appeal in people, objects, or scenes, and it appears in both everyday language and formal discourse.

In aesthetics, beauty has been treated as a criterion, an experience, or a relation to form. Philosophers have offered different accounts: some emphasize harmony and proportion, others stress expressiveness or subjective pleasure. Kant distinguished beauty as a universal communicable judgment, not dependent on interest, while phenomenologists emphasize embodied perception and context. Across cultures, beauty is both universal and culturally variable.

Socially, beauty standards are shaped by history, media, and institutions, and they intersect with gender, class, and race. The term 'beaute' thus encompasses not only physical appearance but also stylization, performance, and care practices such as fashion, cosmetics, and grooming.

In practice, the concept informs the beauty industry, including cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and spa services. Markets are global and rapidly evolving, with trends often responding to science, wellness movements, and calls for inclusivity and diversity. Critiques address the impact of beauty norms on well-being and social equity.

In arts and literature, beauty is a recurring subject, guiding perceptions of sculpture, painting, music, and film. The ideal of beauty can be pursued as an objective standard or as an effect produced by technique and interpretation.