The Picture of Dorian Gray Preface

Oscar Wilde was one that was very engrossed in the aestheticism movement, which is clearly seen by the preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wilde eloquently writes, “There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all” (vii). According to Wilde, books are not meant to sway the audience in one direction or the other just as art should not as well. It is the goal of art solely to present “beautiful things” and allow for the audience to decipher “beautiful meanings” for themselves (vii). He believes that art has many contributors from vice and virtue to thought and language, but that the art itself should portray something very basic. It is not the artist’s job to depict an image with all the intricacies spelled out. It is the audience’s job to find intricacies in what appears to be basic.

Moreover, when it comes to art, the audience plays the biggest role. It is the audience’s job to “translate into another manner or a new material his impression of beautiful things” (vii). There will be many different translations, but it should be the goal of art to create these translations: “Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex, and vital” (vii). If audiences all agree on a piece, then the artist is not being successful. However, in delving into the meaning of an art piece, Wilde warns that it is “at their peril” (vii). There is so much under the surface of artwork that the audience must realize the task they are taking on. However, it is a task necessary to be taken.