Errors of Elegance.

On a definition of elegance.  

Whilst a marginally splashy to the native English ear,

“elegance” is a curiously straightforward concept for the Latin population of Europe, nowhere more so than in Italy. 

Much as the country is in collective disagreement over any and every issue, (not least that of being a single country,) the concept of elegante is seemingly intrinsically understood, irrespective of a person’s social or artistic merits or graces.

Elegance of course has its proper definition, even in English, its sternest critic. 

The Cambridge English dictionary definiens elegance as:

‘The quality of being graceful and attractive in appearance or behavior.’

 Perhaps discomfort derives directly from definition – in England at least, attractive is often pronounced slowly and deliberately, typically uttered with mild mistrust or apprehension. As for grace, the word today is confined to camp drawing rooms or flower rooms, used as infrequently as either by the majority of the population. Somewhat suspicion-making, these are back-door adjectives, rarely uttered in the object’s presence.

Of course, it doesn't;t help that in England one can be accused of being too attractive and too graceful. Something that is certainly not the case in America, where English its own, distinctively distant language.

In Italian, on the other hand, “elegance” is defined as:

‘Sober refinement, distinction; 

dressed with measure, grace and “garbo”  (something between competence and courtesy); 

finesse, especially in art’

A definition both more complimentary and concrete. 

Perhaps “elegant” might just not be the most accurate stand-in for the Continental concept of “elegante” – just as the French prefer to use the word chic in certain scenarios, despite having use of the word elegante. 

Culture of course plays a paramount part.

The most faithful English equivalent might perhaps be the word “lovely”: capable of producing similar feelings of proud and pleasant delight in an Englishman as the Italian “elegante”  to the Italian ear. It is certainly the highest form of compliment you can hope for from an Englishman.

So there we are: in search of lovely instructions, around food and the table.  

This is not as subjective or abstract as it may appear; elegance is by no means limited to “soft” matters such as manners and taste.

In mathematics, for example, an elegant solution is defined as: simple and insightful yet effective and constructive. 

Similarly, a computer program or an algorithm is elegant if it uses a small amount of code to great effect.

I am also told by a mathematician friend that there exists the concept of generality - something is elegant if it has a wide application and use. 

Back to the table: as it is a word that will often appear here, below is an offer of a definition, to clarify and “de-pompsify”.

Loosely speaking, in culinary circumstances and generally in life, elegance is that which is:

-       Simple

-       Thoughtful

-       Delightful.

JW.