more from Richard Wollheim

Single Idea 20347

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / B. Nature of Art / 2. Art as Form]

Full Idea

It is said that beauty cannot consist in organisation because, if it did, we would not be able to predicate beauty of totally simple objects.

Gist of Idea

If beauty needs organisation, then totally simple things can't be beautiful

Source

Richard Wollheim (Art and Its Objects [1968], 59)

Book Reference

Wollheim,Richard: 'Art and Its Objects' [Penguin 1975], p.158


A Reaction

[He says this idea originates in Plotinus] I'm struggling to think of an example of something which is 'totally' simple and beautiful. Maybe a patch of colour like the breast of a bullfinch?