Who created art is for arts sake?

The precise origin of the phrase "art for art's sake" (or *l'art pour l'art*) is debated, but it's most strongly associated with the French Romantic and Decadent movements of the 19th century. No single person can be credited with its invention, but several key figures popularized and championed the idea:

* Théophile Gautier: Often cited as a major proponent, Gautier's writings and aesthetic principles heavily emphasized the autonomy of art and its intrinsic value, independent of moral or social concerns.

* Charles Baudelaire: While not explicitly using the phrase as much as Gautier, Baudelaire's ideas about the importance of artistic originality and the pursuit of beauty for its own sake strongly aligned with the "art for art's sake" philosophy.

Therefore, it's more accurate to say the concept emerged from a confluence of ideas within a specific artistic and intellectual movement rather than being attributable to a single creator.