Line
Line is the path of a point moving through space.
A video about Line
There are 2 types of lines in art: Real and Implied
1. Real Lines
Real lines are physical marks made in an artwork. There are many different types of real lines.
Thin
Thick
Zig Zag
Wavy
Curly
Dashed
Dotted
Varied
Spiraled
Curved
Parallel
Perpendicular
Expressive Lines
Lines that represent emotion
Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1893
Retrieved From: https://www.edvardmunch.org/the-scream.jsp
Contour Lines
Lines that outline objects
Henri Matisse, Still Life on Table, 1941
Retrieved From: https://www.berlindrawingroom.com/contour-lines-from-matisse-to-david-hockney/
Gesture Lines
Lines that represent movement
Keith Haring, Untitled (Dance), 1987
Retrieved From: https://www.wikiart.org/en/keith-haring/untitled-dance-1987
Decorative Lines
Lines that add embellishments using pattern or repetition.
Aubrey Beardsley, The Peacock Skirt, 1893
Retrieved From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey_Beardsley#/media/File:Beardsley-peacockskirt.PNG
2. Implied Lines
Implied lines are lines not made by a physical mark in an artwork. The viewer's eyes follow implied lines through an artwork. Implied lines help the viewers recognize the main subject in a work of art.
Directional Lines
Implied lines that show perspective.
Horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines
Gustave Caillebotte, Le Pont de L’Europe,1881
Retrieved From: https://www.artandantiquesmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/201507_caillebotte_01.jpg
Emphasis Lines
Implied lines that frame the main subject and/or guide the viewer's eyes through the artwork.
Grant Wood, Parson Weems’ Fable,1939
Retrieved From: https://artclasscurator.com/elements-of-art-examples/#Line
Line & Emotion
Artists use line to convey different emotions in their artwork. Lines can also evoke different emotions from the viewer of an artwork.
Jagged lines represent emotions like excitement and anger while smooth lines represent emotions like calm and happy.
Artists Using Line
Piet Mondrian, Composition with Red, Yellow, and Blue,1942
Retrieved From: https://www.piet-mondrian.org/composition-with-red-yellow-and-blue.jsp
Kenneth Snelson, Needle Tower, 2006
Retrieved From: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kenneth_Snelson_Needle_Tower.JPG
Albrecht Dürer,1471-1528