Unit 3: Representations of Space in Art 3ยบ ESO Visual Arts Teacher Simone
Observe the painting “The Lunch” by Claude Monet How do you feel looking at this work?
Monet transports us to a reality of SPACE. SPACE has
3 dimensions, that’s to say:
LENGTH WIDTH DEPTH In reality, the painting is a plane, or a surface with
only:
LENGTH WIDTH
Resources to represent space ď‚— Artists use different resources in 2-dimensional works
to recreate the sensation of depth and represent an illusionary space.
ď‚— In a certain way, artists try to replicate a realistic
vision that the spectator could have of the place.
1. CONICAL PERSPECTIVE Conical perspective is a technique used by artists to
represent 3 dimensional space.
It simulates how objects recede further in the
distance.
2. VARIATIONS IN SIZE ď‚— Objects close to us appear big, and objects far from us
appear small.
2. VARIATIONS IN SIZE ď‚— Artists change the size of objects in order to create the
effect of a three-dimensional scene.
3. SUPERPOSITION The superposition is when one
object covers part of another.
Our brain interpets that the
object that is covered is FARTHER AWAY.
The object that covers is
CLOSER.
3. SUPERPOSITION ď‚— Artists use superposition in order to create the effect
of 3-dimensional space.
4. POSITION IN THE PLANE The inferior border of an
superior
artwork is considered the FOREGROUND (the nearest part)
The superior border of an
artwork is considered the BACKGROUND (the fathest part)
inferior
5. COLOR DYNAMICS ď‚— If we observe a
landscape, we can observe that the colors lose intensity as they recede in the distance, where they blend with the particles in the air.
ď‚— Compare
5. COLOR DYNAMICS ď‚— Artists simulate
this atmospheric phenomenon by giving less definition to forms in the distance and giving their colors less intensity.
6. LIGHT AND SHADOW
Light, which allows us to see objects, has a secondary
effect– shadow.
An illuminated object will have zones of both light
and shadow, which augments a three-dimensional effect.
6. LIGHT AND SHADOW Chiaroscuro: is a technique to recreate the
progression of light to shadow (light to dark) of an object.
This helps give an effect of three dimensions.
6. LIGHT AND SHADOW ď‚— Similarly to color, the
contrast between light and shadow become less intense the further in the distance they are.
ď‚— Objects in general
become more grey.
OBSERVE THE PAINTINGS Which elements to “represent space” have the artists
used?
“Las Hilanderas” by Velázquez
“Muchacha de espaldas” by Dalí
“El carro de heno” by El Bosco