The Illusion of Space
Or Composition
Changes in Scale
Christ and the Woman of Samaria 1450
German Wood cut
Notice that in the German woodcut, an
attempt has been made to suggest distance
By reducing the size of the figures, trees &
Castle at the top
Mantegna ‘ Agony in the Garden ‘ 1469
The ‘Agony in the Garden’ used change of scale along with other methods to create an illusion of depth.
Can you see where these are in the painting?
Do a small sketch of this image.
Make notes about what and where these around your sketch
. Photograph and put on your own Year 12 or 13 slideshow
Sketch of Mantegna ‘Agony in the Garden’ 1469
Richard Bosnan ‘The Chase’ 1982
Look for your own examples of works in which change of scale is used to create an illusion of depth.
Pin onto your board ‘illusion of space’ in your pinterest. Include name and date
Sketch the example and make notes to indicate where the changes are
Foreshortening
Man Rowing a boat 1985, Dick Frizzell (NZ)
Because of the view’s position in relation to the subject, there is some distortion in shape as the subject recedes
Glenda Randerson (NZ)
1949
Circular shapes become ovals
Mary Cassett ‘The boating party’ 1893
Use of overlapping
In a composition creates an
Illusion of perspective or depth
Rita Angus (NZ) Tombstones from the Bolton Street Cemetery 1969
Another use of overlapping to
Create an illusion of space
Aerial Perspective
Leonardo Da Vinci (Florentine) 1508
Madonna and St Anne
In this example the distant view appears lighter
And fainter and less detailed as it is affected by
The conditions of distance, air & light in the
earth's atmosphere
Linear Perspective
Flagellation c. 1450’s Piero della Francesca (Italian)
Linear perspective was on the the techniques used by Renaissance painters and architects to create the illusion of depth in their drawings and paintings. It was noticed that the edges of shapes with parallel edges appeared to slope towards each other as they went into the distance.
We notice this when we see telegraph poles and railway lines. All the lines appear to disappear at one point on the horizon. This type of perspective is called one point perspective. It is drawn so that the artist/viewers eye level is on the horizon line.
The Avenue 1899 Edouard Vuillard (French)
2 examples of linear perspective to show depth, the effects are different in each.
The Scream 1895 Edvard Munch (Norwegian)
A sense of alienation and anxiety is strong in the Munch, but in the Vuillard the emotional feeling is one or serenity, peace and order
Giorgio de Chirico 1913 Printanier (Italian)
In this work be de Chirico , perspective is used to create an impression of vast empty spaces in a menacing dream-like world
Task: collect examples of linear perspective, pin them onto your board on pinterest. Make sure you name the artist and work Paste onto your slideshow also