The Analysis of Beauty

The Analysis of Beauty is an aesthetic treatise written and illustrated by William Hogarth, published in 1753, setting out his theory of what makes visual composition beautiful.

Argument

Rather than following classical academic conventions, Hogarth argued that beauty arises from specific formal qualities an artist can identify and apply directly, combining practical guidance for painters with criticism of the artistic establishment of his day.

The Line of Beauty

Hogarth's central concept is the "Line of Beauty," a serpentine, S-shaped curve he held to be the fundamental source of visual appeal, embodying variety, intricacy, and movement, and leading the eye in what he described as "a kind of chace."

Influence

Hogarth's theories represented a departure from rigid classical rules in favor of naturalism, irregularity, and expressive formal complexity; while they had limited direct effect on contemporaneous painting practice, they went on to influence later Romantic-era literary and artistic thought.

See also

• William Hogarth
• Caricature