“In judging of a beautiful statue, the aesthetic faculty is absolutely and completely gratified by the splendid curves of those marble lips that are dumb to our complaint, the noble modelling of those limbs that are powerless to help us.”
- October 16, 1854 – November 30, 1900
- Irish
- Author, poet, playwright
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Quote
“In judging of a beautiful statue, the aesthetic faculty is absolutely and completely gratified by the splendid curves of those marble lips that are dumb to our complaint, the noble modelling of those limbs that are powerless to help us.”
Explanation
In this quote, Oscar Wilde reflects on the role of aesthetic appreciation in art, particularly in the case of a beautiful statue. He highlights that the visual beauty of the statue—the curves of its marble lips and the noble modelling of its limbs—completely satisfies our aesthetic senses. The statue is admired for its form and proportions, fulfilling the viewer’s desire for beauty. However, Wilde points out that, despite its physical allure, the statue is incapable of responding to human needs or complaints—its lips are dumb, and its limbs are powerless. This separation between beauty and function emphasizes that while the statue provides pure visual pleasure, it cannot serve a practical purpose or engage emotionally in a direct way with the viewer.
Wilde’s observation touches on the idea that art—and especially aesthetic art—exists for its own sake, separate from the need to be useful or serve any functional purpose. The statue does not interact with us or address our concerns, yet it offers a sublime experience simply by embodying beauty. In this sense, Wilde suggests that the true purpose of art is not to solve problems or to be useful, but to gratify our senses and provide emotional fulfillment through its form and presence.
In modern contexts, this quote serves as a reminder of the purity of art that focuses solely on aesthetic experience, without the expectation of fulfilling any other social or functional role. It speaks to the value of art that exists to be appreciated for its own beauty, highlighting how art can be an end in itself, offering joy and satisfaction to the viewer without the need for direct interaction or utility.
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