ART 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Afocal System, Hokusai, Vitruvian Man
Document Summary
Learning objectives: define symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial balance, explain the relationship between emphasis and focal point, differentiate between scale and proportion, describe the relationship between pattern, repetition, and rhythm. Example a: leonardo"s vitruvian man embodies all the qualities of design. Symmetry, proportion, and ratio derive from the perfection of the human figure. Notice that the figure"s limbs fit perfectly within their frame. Balance + definitions: all art deals with visual weight, meaning the apparent heaviness or lightness of the shapes and forms arranged in the composition. Example b: absolute and bilateral symmetry: absolute: each side is exactly the same, bilateral: minor discrepancies, but the overall effect is symmetrical. Asymmetrical balance describes a composition that lacks symmetry but can still be balanced if sides possess the same visual weight. Example d: in palladian architecture, we see a symmetrical dome flanked by four symmetrical reception rooms.
