THE ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ART

A. LINE

"There are no lines in nature" - Eugène Delacroix (French, 1798-1863)
Look at this watercolor by Delacroix.
Look closely at his lines.
I'm being ironic here. I'm pointing out that he uses lines, therefore contradicting his own doctrine.
  • Contour Line
    • the edge of a form (2D or 3D)
    • can also give the feeling of volume
    • look at how the
      contour line of this
      apple drawing goes
      behind the stem
      - giving a sense of
      three dimensionality
      to the form
      of the apple
Look at this
drawing of a sleeping cat
by Gwen John
(British, 1876-1939).
It's beautiful.
Notice how she defines
the edge of the cat with
graceful contour lines.
Sometimes she moves
the line or
changes her mind.
It seems like the
tail is moving
- almost twitching
as the cat dreams.
Here is another drawing
by Gwen John. Notice how
the profile is drawn with a
simple contour line.
   
  • Lines can suggest emotion -
    		•
    • agitated
    Click here to see Laocoon by El Greco (Domenikos Theotocopoulos - Greek,1541-1614) with agitated lines.
    • calm
      •
    Note the difference in this Study for the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci (Italian, 1452-1519). The drawing depicts a very serene woman. Look carefully at the line.
    In this drawing of woman, Kathe Kollwitz (German, 1867-1945) lines convey the emotion of extreme sadness by emphasizing the furrowed brow as well as the forlorn eyes. Also, the lines used to form the contour of the shoulders and arms are curvy and repeated. This makes them seem almost quivering. The shoulders are drooping under the weight of her sorrow. This was done during the first world war.
  • Lines can create a sense of movement,
    create energy or focus attention.
    These lines create
    the feeling of
    the wind moving
    her hair and dress.
    		•
    • The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli (Italian, 1445-1510)
    • Look at these prehistoric cave paintings from Lascaux (France). They seem to be permanently frozen in mid-gallop.
    Interior with Dog by Pierre Bonnard (French, 1867-1947) - at first seems to be just a lot of scribble. But spend some time and you'll find a couple of teapots on a table with a dog. Why is the dog on the table? Never mind. Above the dog's head is another table. I think that table is in front of a window, because there seems to be tree forms outside.

    Let's just concentrate on the table in the foreground. You'll notice that the teapot that is in front has scribbly lines that create the effect of shading on the side of the teapot. These lines add energy. There's a book near the spout of the teapot with jaggedy lines on the cover - also for energy. The checkered tablecloth's lines seem to converge at the dog's tail - pointing to the dog.
    So, here the lines
    • create energy
    • and focus our attention - on the dog.

    The girl's eyes and finger point to the moon. The broken line indicates where the virtual line would be. Where there is a virtual line, there would not be a broken line. This is just my illustration.
    A virtual line is not drawn - it is just implied.
    • Virtual lines - lines that are suggested by forms
    • "Alexander the Great" by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696-1770)Be sure to click on the thumbnail in order to see a bigger version of "Alexander the Great. "Who's looking adoringly at whom? In this painting, the eyes have it. The viewer must look in order to see what they are all looking at. Thus, creating virtual lines - declaring the true desires of the people in the painting. Be sure to read the text that comes along with this image. It explains the whole story behind the painting.
    • Lippi's Madonna - notice the eyes. Where are they directed? Again, the viewer follows their gaze. In this way, the artist is directing us to look where he wishes.