Angelcore

Angelcore is a contemporary aesthetic inspired by imagery and depictions of angels, and is adjacent to devilcore. It is very similar in vibe with the Rococo style of the 18th century. Some of the old paintings with cherubs you find on Pinterest are Rococo.

The aesthetic is designed to emulate the same unearthly beauty that the European stereotype of angels are described and depicted with, though it can also include non-European angel aesthetics. This can be done with modern or older presentation methods.

It’s also important to note that much angel mythology/imagery comes from multiple belief systems (from Greek paganism, to Judaism, to New Age, to the aforementioned Christianity). So there are no specific religious connections or connotations involved in an angelic aesthetic.

Visuals[]

Butterflies
Cherubs
Gold
Columns in the Classical orders, usually Ionic
Cupids
Flower garlands (aka festoons)
Fluffy clouds
Sunbeams and crepuscular rays
Glitter
Flowers, especially roses
Hearts
Highlights & shadows
Keys
Lyres
Mirrors
Classical orders (columns)
Light
Wings
Harps
Halos
Laurel crowns
Shells
Sky
Small ornate patterns, usually Rococo
Tears
Reflections
Rainbows

There is also an entirely Angelcore store in the Montmartre district of Paris, called La Boutique des Anges, Rue Yvonne le Tac no. 2. There are all kinds of designs with angels, mainly figures.

Food[]

Angel cake
Coconut
Meringues

Fashion[]

Silk and sheer fabrics
Lace
Feathers
Long, flowing, light clothing
Nightgowns and coords
Flowers and floral patterned clothing
Crosses
Rosaries
Ballet flats
Sandals
Light or natural makeup
Fake halos and fake wings
Dresses
Jewellery
(in Chinese fantasy media) Taoist robes

Media[]

Film[]

The Sacrifice (1986)
Wings of Desire (1987)
Faraway, So Close! (1993)
What Dreams May Come (1998)

Fallen Angel[]

The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare
The Infernal Devices
The Dark Artifices
City of Bones (2013)
The Prophecy I, II and III

Anime, Manga, & Comics[]

Angel Beats!
Miss Angel and Miss Devil
Asterisk
Angel's Egg
Haibane Renmei
Angel Buddy

Video Games[]

Kid Icarus franchise

Webfiction[]

Sage Monarch (the main character, Yang Qi, has quite a few kinds of wings and has angel symbolism)

Music[]

As an aesthetic based heavily on feeling, ambient-based and adjacent music genres can be seen as complementary to this aesthetic. Folk and classic piano are also popular.

Genres[]

Ambient
Renaissance-era choral
Music box music

Artists[]

Lana Del Rey
Melanie Martinez (K-12 album)
Holly Henry
Sufjan Stevens
Nicole Dollanganger
The Oh Hellos
Billie Marten
Flower Face
Cults
Portishead
Goldfrapp
Kalafina

Subgenres[]

Cherubcore[]

The Toilette of Venus, by François Boucher, 1751, oil on canvas

Les Génies des Arts, by François Boucher, 1761, oil on canvas

The difference between cherubs (aka putti, singular putto) and angels are enough to warrant its own tag on various social media websites most notably Tumblr. Cherubcore focuses on the feelings and values portrayed by heavenly cherubs and the small, sweet, baby-like innocence of the figures that differ from the divine essence of angels. There is often a distinct crossover in this aesthetic with Angelcore and Babycore, with a hint of Lovecore now and then due to the similarity between cherubs and the mythical figure Cupid. The visuals of cherubcore are the same as angelcore but add more fun visuals like candy, cherubs laughing in paintings, hearts, porcelain figures, and child's toys. There are lots of pinks and whites involved as well. Fashion has a very similar overlap to Nymphet and Babycore, with youthful and childlike articles of clothing and accessories.

Fallen Angel[]

The Fallen Angel aesthetic, also known as dark/goth angelcore, takes angelcore and adds more somber themes and dark visual tones while still providing the essences of ethereal and other-worldy. Many of the themes of fallen angel involve feelings of "falling from grace" or unworthiness/not wanting to be placed on a pedestal like angels are commonly portrayed. The aesthetic itself can both exude feelings of peace and radiance or sorrow and malice depending on the camp presented.

Common motifs for fallen angels include angel statues, black wings, flowing white and/or black fabrics, fire, halos, horns and tails, the sky and the ground, snakes, and much more. Visually, there is a crossover with Dark Naturalism, which exhibits dark, misty visuals of nature. Other visuals can overlap with Traumacore and Grunge, employing angelic motifs mixed with heavy melancholy themes. Fashion takes regular angelcore and turns it black, almost gothic. It can also take an aforementioned Grunge route.

This aesthetic can focus on criticizing the Catholic religion, sharing similar aspects of reasoning with Sacricore. Common topics include excommunication, religious trauma, and mental illness. Often this is mixed with the aforementioned feelings of falling from grace or feeling tainted, and potentially being cast out of a religion or choosing to leave it.

Media[]

The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare
The Infernal Devices
The Dark Artifices
City of Bones (2013)
Angels In America
Kid Icarus Uprising

Biblical Angel[]

Biblical Angels are taken from the biblical depiction of angels, rather than the altered humanistic version created by the media. There are various sections of the Bible where angels and cherubs are described, including Ezekiel 1:5-11, Isaiah 6:2, Job 38:7, Ps 8:5, Ac 26:13, and Re 1:20. These verses and many others describe angels as hot, pure energy, and frightening to humans. This is a popular subject in art and can be seen across media. Often times they are depicted as half human, half animal or as energy balls with a thousand eyes circling around it with six wings.

This subject focuses on the reality of divinity and the terrifying truth that had been covered up by mainstream society over history. The overall theme of the biblical angel aesthetic is questioning monstrosity and fear, and presenting truth to those living in ignorance. It is both ethereal and horrifying, and has a subcommunity for those who identify with these depictions. These communities also use their art of biblical angels to portray the previously mention themes, as well as humor. Being ethereal and mysterious, feeling "too big your body", and a deep philosophical nature can accompany the moods of this aesthetic.