Poore's page of small pictures, each matched to a kind of line: tall trees and a vertical figure for the vertical, a flock on a plain for the horizontal, a curving form, an oval ring of dancers by Rubens, and diving swallows for the diagonal.

Concept · Arranging the Picture

Line and Direction

Lines, edges and gestures point the eye in a direction, and each direction can carry a mood.

Poore matched pictures to kinds of line: vertical for dignity, horizontal for calm, curve for movement, diagonal for speed.

  • The Getty defines movement as "the path the viewer's eye takes through the work of art, often to focal areas."
  • In Leonardo's Last Supper, the lines of the room meet on Christ, drawing attention to him (Smarthistory).

See

Image: Project Gutenberg · Public domain

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