The evolution of aesthetic canons

What? Really? You didn’t know that Scarlett Johansson, if she was born in the 16th century, wouldn’t be considered as pretty as she is today?

We have seen throughout history that beauty standards evolved from Ancient history to nowadays. Every period of our world’s history has specific aesthetic canons. First of all, what is an aesthetic canon? On Wikipedia, the online encyclopaedia, tells us that aesthetic canon is “A canon in the sphere of visual arts and aesthetics, or an aesthetic canon, is a rule for proportions, so as to produce a harmoniously formed figure.”. You know what could be interesting to observe? The evolution of the beauty standards throughout history.

Ancient history

Hellenistic period (323 B.C. – 30 B.C.) “Mens sana in corpore sano”

During the Hellenistic period, the beauty standards were similar as the beauty standards of the Ancient Greece but with few differences. They are plump, full-bodied, have light-skin: it is all about proportions. However, during this period, a new standard for beauty appeared: health. Indeed, health became really important as it represents the intern light and beauty

(Venus de Milo, Alexandros of Antioch)

Middle Ages

(476 B.C. – 1453)

Women during middle ages are most of the time slim, mostly because of the famine, not too skinny because it is seen as a sign of illness but not too plump as well with small breasts and a thin waist. One thing that is really important is the fact they need to have a long forehead, thin lips and a light skin.

(The Birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli)

Early modern period (1492 – 1789)

During the early modern period, and mostly renaissance, beauty standards change completely from middle ages. Indeed, as the renaissance is taking its inspiration from Ancient history, the beauty standards have similitudes with the aesthetic canons of this period. Women have light skin, ample bossom, full hips and rounded stomach. Women are more plump than ancient Greece women as it represents wealth.

Modern period (1789 – Nowadays)

During the modern period, we can distinguish multiple beauty standards. Indeed, during there are four “ideal” body types that can represent well the body types.

Queen Victoria

(1830-1900) Full body, plump, cinched waist

1950s : Full body, plump, cinched waist

(Marylyn Monroe)

1990s : Thin, small breast and butt, tall, hourglass figure

(Kate Moss)

2010s : Skinny, hourglass figure with large breast and wide hips, full lips, thigh gap

(Kim Kardashian)

All of those beauty standards have mark their time and define (mostly by men) the beauty of women, put them into categories. However, we have seen during the last couple of year, with the body positivity movement, that beauty standards are beginning to disappear as this social cause brings this idea of loving ourselves and feel beautiful with whatever body type we have. This is why we need to support and keep going this fight against beauty standards who are trying to put us in categories.

-Julie