Introduction to Visual Elements and Line Answers

The visual elements of art include, line, color, texture, space, shape, and form.

Answers will vary, but should include at least one example for each element. Examples may include: Line: Horizontal line of the tie/scarf; the vertical lines in the basket and with the flowers; the diagonal lines of the shawl; the curvilinear lines of the flowers and that of the woman; etc. Color: the darkness in the background to draw the eyes to the flowers and woman; the contrast in light between the woman and the flowers; etc. Texture: the shadowing on the basket, shawl, and flowers make them appear real if we could touch them; etc. Space: the grandness of the flowers; the small portions of the woman; the man standing behind the basket, the way the flowers appear overtop the woman’s head and body; etc. Shape: the shape of the basket, the flowers, the flower centers, the body of the women, etc. Form: the depth created by the man behind the woman and the flowers; the height and presence of the flowers; the meekness and serenity of the woman; the way the eyes seems to start at the woman and then go up and cascade along the flower; etc.

Answers will vary, but must include a definition and a sentence. Curvilinear: Lines that gradually change direction. Sentence: In his piece entitled, Tahitian Landscape, Paul Gauguin used diagonal and curvilinear lines to move our vision through the piece and helps reinforce the calmness of the mood. Form: The organization, placement or relationship of the basic elements in art, so as to produce a coherent, aesthetically pleasing image. Form gives height, width, and overall depth to artwork. Sentence: Also known as composition, the form of a work of art is significant to the other visual elements.

This piece is a line drawing by Henri Matisse. The artist relied mostly on line to create this piece. Almost all art begins with line, which leads to the artist incorporating other visual elements. Although the piece does have other visual elements in their rawest forms, Matisse choose not to develop these, and instead concentrate on line.

Answers may vary but should include some or all of the following information:  Color is what the eye sees when light is reflected off a surface. This painting by Frida Kahlo uses color to convey mood. The colors are bright in the painting conveying a festive mood.

Freeform shapes can be closed or open, and have no defined name or qualities. Geometric shapes are close shapes, with a specific name and distinct qualities. In Modern Painting with Clef, Liechtenstein used geometric shapes, such as triangles, rectangles, and semi-circles. He also made various freeform shapes using different types of lines to cut through geometric shapes, and create new shapes.

Line is defined as a path through space. Horizontal lines create a path from side to side, and provide the horizon for a two-dimensional piece of art. Vertical lines create a path up and down, and provide strength and permanence to a piece. Diagonal lines slant and help create a sense of motion. Curvilinear lines, or curved lines, slowly change direction. Spirals and circles begin with a curvilinear line. Zigzag lines are connected, usually diagonal lines, and can travel horizontally or vertically.

Overlapping is when one part of a shape or form is placed in front of another, Foreshortening is a technique that make a form appear to move back in space. In Mantegna’s piece, The Lamentation over the Dead Christ, he used overlapping to provide the depth to the room, and to show the image of Christ on top of the bed. By using foreshortening, the artist was able to make the body of Christ lay horizontal, and therefore receding into the background. This technique also allowed the other figures on the left to be positioned specifically by his waist, while his chest and head appear behind the figures. Mantegna created great depth using these techniques.

The visual or tactile characteristics of a surface (ex: smooth or rough), adding dimension to art. This painting is Nude Descending a Staircase No.2. The artist has used texture in a unique fashion, in that he has used line as a form of texture to created a two-dimensional piece. The subject in the painting appears to be moving quickly downwards in a diagonal pattern from top-right to bottom-left.

This is Saint Peter’s Basilica, located in the Vatican. The architect used vertical lines to emphasize the strength and permanence of the building and horizontal caps on the columns to keep the façade from escaping into the heavens and to help contain it as a piece of art.