aestheticized
es-THET-ih-syzd
Definition
To treat or present something as an object of beauty, art, or visual appreciation, often by highlighting or modifying its appearance.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek word 'aisthetikos,' meaning 'perceptive by feeling' or 'pertaining to sensory perception,' the term evolved into 'aesthetic' to describe the study of beauty and later became a verb through the suffix '-ize'.
In the news
In this article, the word describes how traditional Japanese kintsugi repair techniques turned cracks in Korean pottery into intentional, beautiful features rather than hiding them. This mattered because it highlighted how the history of the objects was physically transformed to fit the aesthetic preferences of collectors.
It Had to Be Beautiful: The Origins of the Korean Art Collection
Read the full article ↗The Art Institute of Chicago