POÏÉTIQUE AND AESTHETICS IN PAUL VALÉRY'S WORK: BRIDGING THEORY AND PRACTICE
POÏÉTIQUE AND AESTHETICS IN PAUL VALÉRY'S WORK: BRIDGING THEORY AND PRACTICE

Summary/Abstract: Paul Valéry is a central figure in the reflection on art and literary creation, recognized as one of the most representative intellectuals of the modernist turn in Europe. Rooted in the Symbolist tradition while distancing himself from it, he dedicated much of his work to exploring the artistic creation process. A poet, essayist, and thinker, Valéry distinguished himself through a methodical and introspective approach to the act of creation, which he terms "poïétique," a concept borrowed from Aristotle but redefined by him. Poïétique becomes a systematic investigation of the mechanisms behind artistic production. In parallel, his aesthetic vision—focused on beauty and the artwork—reveals a pursuit of harmony and perfection, leaving room for the viewer's interpretation. His works, marked by a continuous quest to understand creative processes, rest on a close relationship between poïétique and aesthetics. Far from adhering to a purely contemplative or technical view, Valéry envisioned artistic creation as a discipline where theory nourishes practice and vice versa. Valéry’s poïétique, as expressed in his Cahiers, challenges the romantic myth of inspiration and portrays creation as a rigorous, almost scientific process. His approach to art blends intellectual rigor with an acute attention to form, where every word, rhythm, and structure is meticulously crafted. Through his poetry and theoretical work, Valéry invites readers to engage actively in the creative process, viewing the work of art as a dynamic interaction between the artist’s intentions and the spectator’s interpretation.

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