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
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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.
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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