Math + Art - Week 2

I found Dr. Vesna’s lecture video most insightful in this week’s topic. From the lecture, I learned that artists need to truly understand underlying mathematical principles to create a solid foundation in order to draw, paint, or sculpt basic regular forms such as cubes, circles, spheres, etc. Coming from a background with no art influence, I was surprised to find out that nearly all artists had to use mathematical principles to create their masterpieces. For example, Brunelleschi was the first to create linear perspective in 1413. He developed the vanishing point, understood scale and length of objects to the spectator, and controlled perspective.

Short Intro Video of Brunelleschi's Linear Perspective

Leonardo Da Vinci also used a scientific approach to creating art. He studied the eye meticulously and created mathematical formulations to compute the relationship between distance of an object to the eye and intersecting planes. Leonardo, like many other famous artists including Michelangelo, Raphael, and Rembrandt, used the Golden ratio to define proportions in many of his artwork such as the Vitruvian Man and the Mona Lisa. It’s incredibly compelling to learn that a number (Golden ratio) has influenced so many great artists and sculptors.  The ratio was also known was “The Divine Proportion” during the Renaissance period. In Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” the key dimensions of the room, the table and ornamental shields were all based on the Golden ratio. 

The Last Supper with Golden Ratios Outlined

The Golden ratio and the Vitruvian Man had also influenced Le Corbusier, an architect who used the ratio and his modular system to create his architecture. He believed that using the proportions of the ideal human body would improve both the appearance and function of architecture.

Le Corbusier's UN Secretariat Building

However, not all artists believed that creating master art-pieces required specific mathematical formulas and rules. According to Henderson’s “The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion,” some artists followed the belief in a fourth dimension as a symbol of freedom. This created new forms and types of art such as abstract art. 

Example of Abstract Art

Works Cited

"Abstract Art - Lessons - TES." Blendspace. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.

Henderson, Linda. "The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: 

Conclusion." Leonardo. 3rd ed. Vol. 17. MIT, 1984. 205-10. Print.

J, Elaine. "What Is the Golden Ratio?" LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.

"Golden Ratio in Art Composition and Design." The Golden Ratio Phi 1618. 04 May 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.

Smarthistoryvideos. "Linear Perspective: Brunelleschi's Experiement." YouTube. YouTube, 20 Nov. 2011. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.

Uconlineprogram. "Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov." YouTube. YouTube, 09 Apr. 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.