BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

 In the novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, the character, Basil Hallward, perceives Dorian Gray (and his painting of him) as the most beautiful man in the world. His view of Dorian Gray is god-like and superficial. This lead to his ‘perfect’ painting of him. However, it is clear now that the painting isn’t something that is undeniably ‘beautiful’ in other’s eyes. This goes to prove that beauty is truly, only in the eye of the beholder. 

For centuries, art has existed in many forms. Along with this, art has also, always been extremely open to a myriad interpretations. Based on the way people involve their own experiences, as well as their own viewpoints of a subject, their specific conclusions of a true meaning of a piece of art work will always differ in some or many ways. 

In this case, with Basil and Dorian, Basil perceives all forms of Dorian as perfect and beautiful because that is how his own personal experiences of/with him cause him to view him. On the contrary, for example, Lord Henry does not see Dorian in the same way as Basil does because Lord Henry is not Basil and does not have the same recollection and view of Dorian as him. Therefore, he does not see Dorian as beautiful, nor does he find the painting of him beautiful. 

The difference in perception of art is completely dependent on individualized and personal experiences and thoughts, not on the actuality of the artists meaning for the piece, proving that Dorian or the painting of him isn’t the most beautiful in the world, just because Basil tells us it is.