The Artistry Behind Makeup ~ Installment I

Is makeup considered an art? There has been much debate over the correct answer to this question. It is a controversial ideology. How can a superficial substance developed by society be recognized as an art form, especially since artists worked so hard to differentiate themselves from societal commands. Throughout a series of posts, I intend to prove the validity of the statement: makeup is art.

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Here are FIVE FAST FACTS about MAKEUP

1. The oldest makeup dates back to 164,000 BCE in a South African Cave.

2. In 3000 BCE, makeup was believed to have protected one from evil - kohl was primarily used.

3. In Rome around 300 AD, people used barley flour & butter to cover blemishes.

4. During the Italian Renaissance, Signora Toffana marketed "Aqua Toffana" which was a face powder containing lead, belladonna, and arsenic. The idea was to lightened the client's face; instead however, Signora Toffana was accused of 600 deaths.

5. Rouge became the most popular & most important makeup item in 19th-century England to give a natural flush to the cheeks.

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It is safe to say that ancient makeup served as a societal "pretty" convention. When did this trend shift? It began with the prestigious British lady who thought, "the important thing is not what they think of me, but what I think of them." Due to her declaration, it will take over 100 years until makeup is even considered an art form...

Ancient Roman Aesthetic

British Ladies in 1820s