PLEASE NOTE Due to copyright reasons, the images in this power point have been removed, leaving only the text left over from the slide show. Also please note, other terms and names may have been given verbally by the instructor and were never a part of this slide show. Students are ultimately responsible for taking notes seen in slides, mentioned verbally, images seen in slide shows and in videos. The current 8th edition of Sayre’s A World of Art is the book used in this class for lecture, tests and quizzes. Students may definitely find an older edition of the text is sufficient for them, but please note that images may be numbered differently and appear in different chapters between editions and that older editions may not have 100% all the images the newest 8th edition has. Thank you.

Chapter 3 Line

Outline The edge of a shape (two dimensonal) depicted by an actual line drawn or painted on the surface. There is no attempt to render a sense of volume.

Contour Line An expressive line, that insinuates volume Contour Line An expressive line, that insinuates volume. It is inexact and expressive, often rendering a sense of mood, character, presence and volume. It marks the border of an object in space.

Implied Line An invisible line (visual que) meant to create focal emphasis in a work of art or to suggest movement. Line of sight is an example of Implied Line.

Kinetic Line Something has to actually be moving in real life to be kinetic. Thus, kinetic line is a quality that is only associated with artworks that are actually moving.

Qualities of Line Analytic (Intellectual) Expressive (Emotional)

Pat Steir, Drawing Lesson, Part 1, Line #5, 1978 Expressive

Expressive Line A kind of line that seems to spring directly from the artist’s emotions or feelings—loose, gestural, and energetic—epitomized by curvilinear forms.

Analytic Line A kind of line that is mathematical, precise, and rationally organized, epitomized by the vertical and horizontal grid, as opposed to expressive line.

Pat Steir Drawing Lesson, Part 1, Line #1 1978 Hard Line Hatching

Pat Steir Drawing Lesson, Part 1, Line #1 1978 Analytic

Classic line Classic Line falls under the category of Analytic line Classic line Classic Line falls under the category of Analytic line. The term Classic Line is used in reference to artworks that have analytic line, but also reference or were created in the Classical World. Anything occuring before the Renaissance, before the 14th century, is considered Classical.

Romantic Line Bears some of the same references to emotion as expressive line application, romantic line is commonly used to describe 19th century European artworks. It references all emotions and is often characterized by violent line work.