Charles Baudelaire
Charles Pierre Baudelaire (UK: , US: ; French: [ʃaʁl(ə) bodlɛʁ] ; 9 April 1821 – 31 August 1867) was a French poet, essayist, translator and art critic. His poems are described as exhibiting mastery of rhyme and rhythm, containing an exoticism inherited from the Romantics, and are based on observations of real life.
His most famous work, a book of lyric poetry titled Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil), expresses the changing nature of beauty in the rapidly industrialising Paris caused by Haussmann’s renovation of Paris during the mid-19th century. Baudelaire’s original style of prose-poetry influenced a generation of poets including Paul Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud and Stéphane Mallarmé. He coined the term modernity (modernité) to designate the fleeting experience of life in an urban metropolis, and the responsibility of artistic expression to capture that experience. Marshall Berman has credited Baudelaire as being the first Modernist.
The phrase “The dandy should aspire to be uninterruptedly sublime. He should live and sleep in front of a mirror” is a quote by French poet Charles Baudelaire, who defined the dandy as a figure who uses their life itself as a work of art, prioritizing aestheticism, impeccable grooming, and constant self-observation to create a unique, self-styled identity. This quote, from his posthumously published work Mon cœur mis à nu (My Heart Laid Bare), emphasizes the dandy’s dedication to being observed and maintaining an almost religious devotion to the act of self-creation and the maintenance of their fashionable image.
Meaning of the Quote
Obsessive Self-Observation:
The mirror symbolizes a constant, unwavering focus on the self. The dandy lives a life dedicated to scrutinizing their appearance, actions, and persona.
Life as Art:
For Baudelaire, life itself was to be a masterpiece, with the dandy constantly crafting and presenting their existence as a performance for others to admire.
Sublime Image:
The dandy’s ultimate goal was to achieve a “sublime” quality – an elevated state of perfection and artistry in their appearance and demeanor.
The Dandy as a Figure:
This concept of dandyism emerged in late 18th-century Britain, initially describing a man who paid excessive attention to his dress and social position. Baudelaire elevated this idea, making the dandy a more complex philosophical figure.
Source:
The quote is from Baudelaire’s Mon cœur mis à nu (My Heart Laid Bare), which was found in his journals and published posthumously.
Modern Relevance:
This quote and the broader concept of dandyism continue to be referenced in fashion, art, and cultural commentary, appearing in discussions about style, identity, and performance.