Aesthetic Movement

Definition

The Aesthetic Movement was an art movement in late 19th-century Britain that rejected Victorian moralism and emphasized beauty over practical or political themes. Its motto was "art for art's sake."

Related terms

Art Nouveau: An international style of art, architecture and applied art that emerged in response to academic art at the end of 19th century.

Victorian Era: The period during Queen Victoria’s reign from June 1837 until her death on January 1901. It was marked by a high moral tone, industrial progress and colonial expansion.

Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood: An art movement in the mid-19th century that rejected industrialization and sought to return to detailed, vibrant art of the early Renaissance.