aestheticism

[ es-thet-uh-siz-uh m or, esp. British, ees- ]
/ ɛsˈθɛt əˌsɪz əm or, esp. British, is- /

noun

the acceptance of artistic beauty and taste as a fundamental standard, ethical and other standards being secondary.
an exaggerated devotion to art, music, or poetry, with indifference to practical matters.
a late Victorian movement in British and American art characterized by a dedicatedly eclectic search for beauty and by an interest in old English, Japanese, and classical art.
Also estheticism.

Origin of aestheticism

First recorded in 1855–60; aesthetic + -ism

Example sentences from the Web for aestheticism

British Dictionary definitions for aestheticism

aestheticism

sometimes US estheticism

/ (iːsˈθɛtɪˌsɪzəm, ɪs-) /

noun

the doctrine that aesthetic principles are of supreme importance and that works of art should be judged accordingly
sensitivity to beauty, esp in art, music, literature, etc