PODG #1

          Basil Hallward is Oscar Wilde’s tool to portray his own views of the aestheticism movement. Through Hallward’s dialogue, the audience is exposed to the painting process or at least what Wilde thinks it should be. The different ideas that go into creating the picture of Dorian  and all the thought Hallward puts behind it is clearly seen. Hallward’s opinions on his painting show the true essence of the aestheticism movement. In speaking with Lord Henry about his painting, Hallward states, “You might see nothing in him. I see everything in him. He is never more present in my work than when no image of him is there” (8). Hallward touches on a very important point. Art is up to interpretation. It is the artist’s job to leave a piece with the ability to be seen in many lights, and that is what Hallward does with his painting of Dorian. Hallward goes on to say that “an artist should create beautiful things, but should put nothing of his own life into them” (8). Dorian is Hallward’s beautiful object, but he is not telling Dorian’s story. He simply creates a portrait of Dorian; what Henry or anyone else wants to interpret from that is up to them. The picture is the spark, but the fire must be created in the mind of the viewer.