Examples in 20 th Century Art The 7 Principles of Art

Balance or Visual Weight Balance or visual weight is when elements are arranged to create a sense of stability. Balance can also mean that the arrangement of parts or areas in a design or composition are in harmony with one another.

Balance “A Bigger Splash” 1967 David Hockney Acrylic on Canvas Balance can be achieved by the use of strong horizontal and vertical lines. In this painting the artist uses horizontal bands of color.

Balance This painting shows how elements can be arranged in a composition in a balanced and harmonious way. “Still Life With Basket of Apples” 1894 Paul Cezanne Oil on Canvas

Gradation In gradation, elements are combined using a series of gradual changes: from dark to light values, large to small shapes, rough to smooth textures or one color to another.

Gradation “After the Hurricane, Bahamas” 1899 Winslow Homer Watercolor This artist used gradation in the dart-to-light values in the sky and the blue colors of the water

Gradation “Tenuous” 1962 Josef Albers Color Screen Print In this piece, we see gradation of the square shape from larger to smaller.

Movement Movement represents how the viewer’s eye moves throughout a work of art. Some artists combine elements to create the illusion of action, or a representation or suggestion of motion.

Movement “In the Car” 1963 Roy Lichtenstein Magna on Canvas The artist uses simple lines to suggest that the man and woman are in a moving car.

Movement “Composition VIII” 1923 Wassily Kandinsky Oil on Canvas Sometimes artists use lines, shapes and colors to create a sense of motion that cause the eye to move around the work.

Proportion Proportion is when elements are combined to create size relationships of one part to another.

Proportion “The Child’s Bath” 1893 Mary Cassatt Oil on Canvas In this painting, the figures and the elements of the bath such as the basin and pitcher are in proportion.

Proportion “The Flower Carrier” 1935 Diego Rivera Oil on Canvas The flowers, basket, and hands of the kneeling figure are oversized and out of proportion with the other elements in the image.

Focal Point or Area of Emphasis Focal point is the portion of an artwork’s composition on which interest or attention centers.

Focal Point “White Center” 1950 Mark Rothko Oil on Canvas By placing the white area between vibrant colors and adding the strong contrast of the black line, it creates a focal point that our eye is immediately drawn to.

Focal Point “My Egypt” 1927 Charles Demuth Oil on Composition Board The focal point is obvious here – the grain elevators – however, the artist included diagonal lines, like spotlights, further creating an area of emphasis.

Rhythm Rhythm is when elements are repeated to create a visual tempo. Our eye moves throughout the piece gathering similar elements. Rhythm creates visual unity, holding the work together.

Rhythm “Broadway Boogie Woogie” Piet Mondrian Oil on Canvas The color blocks are positioned along a yellow grid in a way that makes them appear to move to a rhythmic beat.

Rhythm “Marilyn Monroe” 1967 Andy Warhol Silkscreen Rhythm can also be created by the use of repetition.

Variety Variety is when contrasting elements are combined to create visual interest, often by using many different colors, values, lines, textures and shapes.

Variety “La Ville” (The City) 1919 Fernand Leger Oil on Canvas Warm and cool colors and overlapping shapes are combined creating excitement and variety.

Variety “Portrait of Dora Maar ” 1937 Pablo Picasso Oil on Canvas Here, the artist uses bright colors and strong shapes against a background of simple colored lines to create variety.