SHAPE IN ART WORKS Definition of Shape and

Examples from Artists

INTRODUCTION TO SHAPE
Were remembering the Eight Basic Plastic Elements which are;
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Point Line Shape Value Form Texture Colour Space

1. Points => 2. Line => 3. Shape

d

What is Shape?
Shape is the third basic plastic element which can be defined as an enclosed area on a artistic or graphic surface. Shape is also determined by other art elements such as line, colour, value and texture.

A Shape is formed by line, value, color and texture.

Point=> Line=> Shape=> 3D Form

We have to pursier the processes from Point to 3D formed image to visualize our nature on a surface.

x
x

x
x

x
x

x
x

v
v

c
c

v
v

c
c

v
v

c
c

c
c

c
c

c
c

ARTISTIC PROCESSUS OF PABLA PICASSO Picasso, Pablo (1881-1973) The Bull Series, 1945 Lithography, Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA

ORGANISATIONS OF POINTS AND LINES

Yaacov Agam is one of the Isralian contemporary artist and creator of the kinetic movement in art as well as its most outstanding contemporary representative.

Yaacov, Agam (1928-) Intimate Star (Op art, Abstract), Lithography, Private collection, USA

SHAPE BY LINES
Theo van Doesburg, (1883-1931) Study for Composition in Gray (Rag-time) 1918, De Stijl, Abstraction Gouache, Krller-Mller Museum Otterlo, Netherlands

In Keinth Harings painting the shapes are formed by lines (contours) Keinth Haring, (1958-1990) Untitled 1984 Graffitti, Private collection

Shape is formed by lines, value, colour & texture. So the shape is an area that stands out from the space next to or around it because of an implied or defined boundary, or because of the differences of value, colour, or texture as well as lines.

French painter, printmaker, draftsman and illustrator, Toulouse Lautrec is one of the greatest artists who uses simplified shapes in the Post-impressionist period.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, (1864-1901) The Opera "Messaline" at Bordeaux 1901 Oil on canvas, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Los Angeles, CA, USA

Alfred Manessier, (1911-1993), -12o , 1956, Art Informel, Abstract, Oil on canvas, Tate Modern, London, UK

Joan Mir, (1893-1983), Hirondelle Amour, 1934, Surrealism, Abstraction, Oil on canvas, 199x247cm, Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, USA

Joan Mir, (1893-1983), 1933, Surrealism, Abstraction Oil on canvas, Fundaci Joan Mir, Barcelona, Spain

Emile Claus, (1849-1924), A Corner of My Garden, 1901 Impressionism, Landscape, Oil on canvas, Private collection

Pierre Bonnard, (1867-1947) View of Cannet, 1941, Cityscape, Oil on canvas, Private collection

d
d

Pierre Bonnard, (1867-1947) Woman in a Checked Dress 1892-98 Oil on canvas, Private collection

Pierre Bonnard, (1867-1947) Woman in a Polka-Dot Dress 1892-98 Oil on canvas, Private collection

SHAPE IN NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE SPACE We have already learned how to recognize the shapes in negative positive space class works. Were remembering the surrounding of the shape (figure) is called background.

Intentional composition

As we have seen before: The thing that you are looking at (the subject of drawing) is known as positive space. The area around it (background) is called negative space.

CONFUSION OF NEGATIVE & POSITIVE AREAS

Some times it wouldt be possible to separate the figure and ground because of the scale and organisation of elements on the surface.

Image from 'A Primer of Visual Literacy' by Donis A. Dondis. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1974

d
Thana Khambanonda (Photograph) Negative Space, Positive Vibe

John Saicode, (Photograph), Convercence

John Saicode, (Photograph), Negative Space

John Saicode, (Photograph), Negative Space

d
John Saicode, (Photograph), Negative Space

Jan Richards, (Photographe), Positive negative space

Lisa Rienermann, (Photographe)

Lisa Rienermann, (Photographe)

NEGATIVE SPACE IN LOGO DESIGN

Negative Positive space relation plays an important part in logo design. Some of the worlds most recognized logos feature creative negative spaces. Ex: Fedex By Pentagram

1. Nexcite logo by Pentegram 2. American Institute of Architects Centre logo 3. WWF 4. Carrefour

1. Elephant logo By Logo Motive Designs 2. Culture Bus logo 3. Ryan Biggs Associates logo by id29 4. Recycle Taiwan logo

1. New Bedford Whaling Museum logo, By Malcolm Grear Designers 2. Concealed Logo 3. Hope For Children Initiative 4. Treacy Shoes

Norma Bar, (Art Graphic Design), Israel

Norma Bar, (Art Graphic Design), Israel

THE SHAPE IN ART & DESIGN

There are many artistes and designers creating their works by using this basic plastic element. For example: Henry Matisse Toulouse Lautrec Cornelis Echer

Henri Matisse is one of these artistes who use shapes as an artistic expression of the 20th century known as the Fauvism (wild beast).
Henri Matisse "Jazz", 1947

Henri Matisse - La Danse (first version). 1909.

Dutch-Frisian graphic artist Cornelis Echer, known for his often mathematically inspired prints, uses the shapes in a exceptionally illusionist way.

O
K

Max C. Escher, Plane-filling Motif with Birds, 1949, wood engraving (reversible figure-ground relationship)

TYPES OF SHAPES IN ART

What kinds of shapes do we primarily see in the paintings of Mondrian, Kandinsky and Picasso? These shapes are soft and round, or more angular and geometrical. What type of feeling does it create these shapes? Both Mondrian and Kandinsky were famous for their abstract paintings they created in the 20th century.

TYPES OF SHAPES IN ART

So we can say that there are mainly 4 different types of shapes in art which are; 1. Circular shapes 2. Rectangular shapes 3. Triangular shapes 4. Curved shapes...

1. CIRCULAR SHAPES IN ART

There are many artists in history of art and in contemporary art who prefer to express their selves bye circular shapes in their art works. Some of these artists are; Wassily Kandinsky Robert Delaunay Auguste Herbin Alexander Calder Atsuko Tanaka Serge Poliakoff

Wassily Kandinsky, Several Circles, 1926, Oil on canvas, Guggenheim Museum New York, NY USA

Robert Delaunay is a French artist known with his artistic style similar to the abstraction and the cubism. Delaunay produced these abstract paintings with the various colored shapes of point.

Robert Delaunay (1885-1941) Hommage a Blriot , 1914 (Cubism, Abstraction) Mixed technique Kunstmuseum Basel, Basel, Switzerland

Robert Delaunay (1885-1941) Disks , 1930-1933 (Cubism, Abstraction) Oil on cardboard Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA

F
F

Kupka, Frank, (1871-1957), The First Step 1910-13, Oil on canvas Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA

ve

ORGANISATIONS OF POINTS AND LINES French artist Auguste Herbin is influenced of the Post-impressionists and Fauvists, He moved on to an abstract, geometric phase before gradually discovering Constructivism. His works are known with two dimensional organizations of colored and geometrical shapes.
Untitled 1959 Abstract Expressionism Silk screen Private collection Chicago, IL, USA

L
Auguste, Herbin, (1882-1960) Cause (Abstract Expressionism) Silk screen, Private collection Chicago, IL, USA

d
Auguste Herbin, (1882-1960) Di Mache 1 , 1950 Abstract Expressionnism, Abstraction, Private collection, Paris, France

Auguste Herbin, (1882-1960), Friday I. , 1951 Abstract Expressionism, Oil on canvas, Muse National d'Art Moderne (Centre Pompidou), Paris, France

q
Auguste Herbin, (1882-1960) Storm, 1953 Abstract Expressionism Oil on canvas, Private collection, Paris, France

Auguste Herbin, (1882-1960), Composition, 1917 Abstract Expressionism, Watercolour, Indiana University Art Museum Bloomington, IN, USA

Alexander Calder (1898 - 1976), Grey Oval , 1975 Surrealism, Lithography, Size: 29 in. x 45 1/4 in. University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum, Tampa, FL, USA

e
Atsuko Tanaka, (1932 - 2005), '83A , 1983 Private collection, New York, NY, USA

Serge Poliakoff, (1900 - 1969) Composition Abstract Expressionism Watercolour, 21.5x15cm Private collection

s
Theo van Doesburg, (1883-1931) Bodegn, Composition, 1916 De Stijl, Abstract, Oil on canvas Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain

Zafer Kahrman, (Photograph), Flowers, 2008

Henry Bergal, (Photograph), Paint by Numbers, 2007

2. RECTENGULAR SHAPES IN ART

There are also many artists in history of art and in contemporary art who express their selves bye rectangular shapes. Some of these artists are;

Piet Mondrian Theo van Doesburg Joseph Alberts

Piet Mondrian, (1872-1944), Composition with Red , 1921, Oil on canvas, Palazzo Grassi, Venice, Italy

Piet Mondrian, (1872-1944) Composition, 1917 De Stijl, Abstraction, Oil on canvas, Krller-Mller Museum, Otterlo, Netherlands

Piet Mondrian, (1872-1944), Composition: Light Color Planes with Grey Contours, 1919, De Stijl, Abstraction, Oil on canvas, Kunstmuseum Basel, Switzerland

Piet Mondrian, (1872-1944), Composition, 1919, De Stijl, Abstraction, Oil on canvas, Musee de lArt Modern, Paris, France

Piet Mondrian, (1872-1944), Composition, 1919, De Stijl, Abstraction, Oil on canvas, Musee de lArt Modern, Paris, France

Piet Mondrian, (1872-1944), Composition, 1913, De Stijl, Abstraction, Oil on canvas, Musee de lArt Modern, Paris, France

Piet Mondrian, (1872-1944), Composizione a scachiera con colori scuri 1919, Oil on canvas, Private collection

Theo Van Doesburg is one of the most important artist who profit the rectangular triangular and circular shapes for his extra vanguard artistic expressions.

Theo Van Doesburg is one of the contemporary of Piet Mondrian that we can considerate his in the constructivist conception. He is also one of the most important represent ants of
Bauhaus school.

d
Theo van Doesburg, (1883-1931) Composition, 1919 Oil on canvas Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza Madrid, Spain

Theo van Doesburg, (1883-1931) Simultaneous Counter-Composition 1929 De Stijl, Abstraction, Oil on canvas, Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA

d
Theo van Doesburg, (1883-1931) Composition in Gray (Rag-time), 1919, De Stijl, Abstraction, Oil on canvas Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy

Josef Albers (1888, 1976) was a German-born American artist and educator whose work, both in Europe and in the United States, formed the basis of some of the most influential and far-reaching art education programs of the 20th century.
Josef Albers' Nesting Tables

Josef Albers, (1888-1976) Hommage to the Square, 1962 Abstract Expressionism, Silk screen, Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA

Josef Albers, (1888-1976) Hommage to the Square, 1962 Abstract Expressionism, Silk screen, Bochum Kunstvermittlung, Bochum, Germany

Bart van der Leck is a Dutch painter, designer, and ceramacist.

With Theo van Doesburg and Piet Mondrian he founded the De Stijl art movement. Bart van der Leck is one of important member of Bauhous school in Art and Design.

Bart van der Leck, (1876-1958), Composition with grey line, 1956 - 1958 De Stijl, Abstraction, Oil on canvas, Krller-Mller Museum, Otterlo, Netherlands

s
Bart van der, Leck (1876-1958) Composition, 1919 De Stijl, Abstraction Oil on canvas, 54 x 43 cm Tate Modern, London, UK

Bart van der Leck, (1876-1958) Composition 1917 no. 4 (Leaving the factory) 1917, De Stijl, Abstract, Oil on canvas, Krller-Mller Museum, Otterlo, Netherlands

Jnos Saxon-Szsz, (1964) Meditative Structures I., 1995, Oil on wood 120 x 120 cm, International Mobil MADI Museum Budapest, Hungary

3. TRIANGULAR SHAPES IN ART

There are so many artists in history of art and in contemporary art who express their selves by triangular shapes. Some of these artists are; Theo van Doesburg Joseph Alberts Jnos Saxon-Szsz Olga Rozanova Bence Marafk Ilka Ged

Theo van Doesburg, (1883-1931) Contra-Composition XIII 1925-1926 De Stijl Abstraction Oil on canvas Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy

Theo van Doesburg (1883 - 1931) Compositie I (stilleven), 1916 Oil on Canvas, Private Collection

Jnos Saxon-Szsz, (1964) rsz-Frsz, 2001, Oil on wood, Private collection

d
Olga Rozanova, (1886-1918) Suprematist Composition, 1916 Suprematism Oil on canvas Private Collection

Bence Marafk, (1974), Triangle, 1993, Oil on fiberboard Collection of International MADI Museum, Maubeuge, France

d
Ilka Ged, (1921-1985) The March of Triangles, 1981 Oil on canvas, 84 x 75 cm Hungarian National Gallery Budapest, Hungary

James Zen, (Photogrqph), Virtual Triangle

James Zen, (Photogrqph), Steps of Triangle

d
James Zen, (Photogrqph), Triangles

La Vida Segun Seba, (Photograph), Le Triangle

Philipp Klinger, (Photograph), Triangle

Tailer Ransom (Photograph), Lines & Triangle

4. CURVED SHAPES IN ART

There are so many artists in history of art and in contemporary art who express their selves by triangular shapes. Some of these artists are; Frank Kupka Pablo Picasso

Frank Kupka (1871-1957) Amorpha: Fugue in Two Colours, 1912 Cubism, Abstract, Mixed technique, Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA

Frank Kupka (1871-1957) Fugue in Two Colours, 1912 Mixed technique, Museum of Modern, New York, USA

dd
Frank Kupka, (1871-1957) Red and Blue Disks, 1911 Cubism, Abstract Oil on canvas, Museum of Modern Art New York, USA

f
Pablo Picasso, (1881-1973) Nude and Still-life, 1931 Oil on canvas Private Collection

Pablo Picasso, (1881-1973) Francoise Gilot with Claude and Paloma, 1951 Oil on fiberboard, Private Collection

d
Picasso, Pablo (1881-1973) Nude Woman in a Red Armchair, 1932, Oil on canvas, Tate Liverpool, Liverpol, UK