Harmony in paints: the influence of mathematics on painting
Since time immemorial, creative work has been helping people not only to express their thoughts and feelings, but also to better understand the world around them. The World Art Day is celebrated on April 15 annually. The date of the celebration has been chosen for a reason — it was on this date several centuries ago that Leonardo da Vinci was born.
An opinion persists that the brilliant Italian painter considered himself to be a scientist first and foremost, even though his invaluable contribution to art is beyond dispute. Da Vinci was an extraordinary person whose thirst for knowledge and desire to experiment helped him bring his extraordinary ideas to life.
Our team has come to the conclusion that it is in the combination of the rationality of mathematics and the expressiveness of art that true perfection is manifested.
The role of mathematics in art
Art has the incredible ability to grab the attention and evoke vivid emotions. Paintings that fascinate with their beauty and harmony make one ponder what lies beyond this magnificence and how it is made. One way to achieve harmony is to use mathematical principles in painting.
Mathematics and art seem to be completely separate areas of knowledge, yet they are closely related to each other. The exact science oftentimes serves as the basis for creative works in various directions in art. Architects, painters, sculptors, musicians draw inspiration from numbers, shapes and proportions.
Fractals: the geometry of infinity
Fractals are an astonishing phenomenon. They are geometric objects made up of parts, each of which repeats the shape of the whole figure. Scientists have proved that humans perceive such structures as the highest manifestation of harmony and beauty, and paintings depicting fractals can significantly reduce stress levels.
The Dutch graphic artist Maurits Cornelis Escher combined mathematical precision and artistic expressiveness in his works. He became one of the first people to depict fractals. Escher’s paintings captivate viewers, making them consider the nature of space, time and eternity.
Abstractionism: art beyond reality
Artists have always sought new ways of conveying their ideas and feelings through unorthodox images and colors. The famous abstract artist Piet Mondrian was convinced that art must express universal ideas, not specific objects and items. And even though the artist started with landscapes, he aspired to create paintings that would depict simple and universal shapes.
Mondrian’s painting “Composition II in Red, Blue, and Yellow” is a graphic example of the interrelation between mathematics and visual art. Horizontal and vertical lines combined with simple geometric shapes embody mathematical rigor and order, while vivid colors liven up the composition.
Golden ratio: perfection in symmetry
In order to create harmonious compositions, the golden ratio is used in visual art. To produce perfect proportions, the canvas must be split into two parts in such a way that the ratio of the whole length to the larger part is the same as that of the larger part to the smaller part.
When it comes to the golden ratio, Leonardo da Vinci is the first to come to mind. But it is important to note that this principle was also masterfully used by Raphael. Within the artist’s works one can easily trace harmony, which emphasizes deep understanding of the laws of geometry and their influence on the aesthetic perception of the works of art.
Linear perspective: illusion of space
Back in the day, linear perspective became a real breakthrough in art, allowing painters to create more naturalistic paintings, in which space gained depth and volume. Mathematics helps determining the distance between objects, the angle of view and other parameters that impact the realism of the image.
The French painter Jean-Antoine Watteau was distinguished by his unique style and attention to details. The artist created paintings about the everyday life of his contemporaries. Interesting experiments with composition and perspective can often be found in his works.
The application of the laws of mathematics in art opens up new opportunities for artists to unleash their potential. In the same vein, rational thinking helps a person make grounded decisions, while creativity helps introducing innovative ideas in various areas of life.
The importance of creative approach has been acknowledged by many great minds throughout the whole history of humankind. As early as in 5th century BC, the ancient Greek philosopher Aristippus of Cyrene created a Code, comprising 24 guidelines, which mentioned, among other things, creativity.
Thanks to the ancient sage’s wisdom, any person can unleash their creative potential. In what way? Find more details in the article: Creativity: how to unleash your genius
