Art and Mathematics
How the Two Worlds Assist in Building Each Other
To many artists, mathematics may seem tedious, foreign and perhaps even the antithesis of visual art. The two subjects are traditionally segregated, depriving many of the knowledge of the strong, yet unexpected, connections between mathematics and art. Mathematics’ use in art can be dated back to the 5th century BCE, when the Greek High Classical sculptor; Polykleitos implemented the 1:√2 ratio of human body proportions in his sculptures. Polykleitos believed that sculpting each successive body part so that it is √2 times larger than the last, beginning with the fingers, would create the aesthetically ideal body.
Since this time, a large number of well known artworks were produced with the assistance of mathematics, including: Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, which utilises the golden ratio to produce appealing body and facial proportions and Gustave Caillebotte’s Paris Street, A Rainy Day (see Figure 1), with its prominent use of linear perspective. These artworks all have a strong aesthetic appeal that can be credited to innovative implementation of mathematical concepts.
While mathematics can assist in the aesthetic appeal of visual art, visual art is able to depict mathematical concepts in an elegant and effective manner; in some cases even furthering mathematical research. Through mathematical concepts…
