Aesthetic Values in Libyan Painting

Abstract

 

This study explores visual arts as a reciprocal relationship between the human being and the surrounding environment, shaped fundamentally by two components: space and the perceiving eye. Space, both internal and external to the artwork, influences the artist’s creative process, while the eye functions as a perceptive tool that captures and translates life’s transformations into visual expression. Visual arts thus rely primarily on the sense of sight, incorporating sensory, intellectual, imaginative, and emotional dimensions.

The study presents key definitions related to plastic (visual) arts as a major pillar of aesthetics, a field formalized in the 18th century by philosopher Alexander Baumgarten. It traces the historical development of aesthetic schools and their diverse philosophical approaches to the world. Furthermore, the research follows the evolution of Libyan visual art, from its pioneering artists to subsequent generations, highlighting the aesthetic values and cultural identity expressed through the Libyan painting, and its contribution to the national artistic narrative.