Beauty, picturesque and sublime.

Beauty and art was once thought of as belonging together, with beauty as among art´s principal aims and art as beauty´s highest calling. This is certainly not the case anymore, art is much more than beauty. Beauty is something universal, we recognize it in harmonious proportions, golden ratio etc.

The picturesque could be said to be a depoliticized landscape, a landscape in harmony, social harmony. It is also entwined with tourism, postcards from a happy trip. The picturesque ways of seeing can be said to idealize and romanticize places. It points to a escapist imagery, almost serves a social function offering viewing pleasure and instilling calm.

The sublime is something that is triggered in people by certain things. Where beauty was the domain of contentment and harmony - a gentle and enjoyable experience - the sublime prompted unsettles feelings and emotional awakening, often the raw power of mother nature. There are no such thing as sublime objects, it is a feeling, you are in the presence of the sublime.