Beauty

 

                                                                 Watercolor of Amarie

                                          ... my eyes, my wide eyes with eternal brightness

                                     end of poem, Beauty, by Charles Baudelaire, "Les fleurs du mal"

Beauty, both varied and profound, exerts an infinite fascination on me. It transcends the physical realm to impact my heart, my mind, and my soul. Beauty, whether it manifests in nature, human interactions, or artistic works, represents a universal ideal that inspires, elevates, and enriches me. By celebrating the vast diversity of human aesthetic characteristics, I learn to appreciate the specificities of each individual on Earth.
The human brain's appreciation of beauty highlights the importance of symmetry, proportions, and colors. Symmetrical faces or harmonious landscapes stimulate brain regions associated with pleasure and appreciation. With passion, I began the analysis of the relationships between beauty and attraction, highlighting the influence of aesthetic standards on our social interactions. I am convinced that beauty possesses the ability to provide comfort, inspire, and motivate by promoting well-being and fostering flourishing. Aesthetically pleasing environments, such as a functional modern house with soothing shapes and colors, a botanical garden with an innovative structure and carefully maintained original flowering plants, watching or creating a captivating work of art, reading a poem by Victor Hugo, "Les Djinns," or listening to the moving music of Jean Sebastian Bach's Cello Suites, have the ability to enhance my emotional well-being by reducing stress levels.
Writers and philosophers such as Victor Hugo or Socrates have emphasized the idea that true beauty lies within, in the soul and actions, and not in physical appearance. Indeed, apart from physical appearance, inner beauty reveals itself as complex and profound. It is frequently associated with moral, emotional, and intellectual attributes. Kindness, generosity, tolerance, intelligence, and inspiration represent manifestations of beauty that transcend age and physical appearance.
The media and advertising have significantly influenced perceptions of beauty. The press disseminates unrealistic aesthetic standards, thereby creating social pressure on our current youth regarding physical appearance. It is true that ancient Greece imposed beauty standards close to human perfection, equally unattainable, and that the multi-talented artist Leonardo da Vinci adopted them as criteria of excellence in his works. Over the centuries, beauty standards have evolved according to different historical periods and various cultures.
The perception of beauty is subjective and influenced by various factors, such as temporal, spatial, and emotional contexts, thus surpassing the limits imposed by cultural, social, and individual differences. The Romantic movement in literature and the arts highlighted the relationship between man and nature, bringing to light the imperative to maintain a balance between society and the environment. Moreover, true beauty resides within nature. From the mountains to the ocean, passing through the twilight sky, nature offers a diversity of visual and sensory experiences that have a profound impact on human beings.
Builders and architects throughout the ages have always aspired to excellence by examining how natural elements, fractals, and symmetrical patterns contribute to a universal aesthetic, boldly combining modern forms with ancient classical currents.