Week 2: Math + Art

In Edwin Abbott’s Flatland, Abbott describes that the shapes of an object that we optically perceive change with one’s perspective.  He specifically uses an example of a penny sitting upon a table to express how it could be seen as a line, circle, or oval, depending upon the viewer’s angle (Abbott 2).  While Abbott’s view is certainly correct, he is not the first to have conceived the idea of perspective, or linear perspective, in art. 

Mathematics really began to influence the work of artists during the Renaissance, with artists intensely studying optics and light.  Brunelleschi, in particular, utilized basic geometry in the forms of triangles and rectangles, and embraced perspective (PBS.org).  Leonardo da Vinci further built upon Brunelleschi’s principles of perspective and geometry, as can be seen by the uses of vertices and a vanishing point in The Last Supper (LeonardoDaVinci.net, Frantz).


The idea of math in art by utilizing linear perspective and simple geometric shapes is still seen today. For example, Sonia Sheridan’s Generative Systems work.  Looking specifically at her first work of art on diffraction, one can easily see the inclusion of linear perspective, triangles, and rectangles, in the doorway.  Moving on to her second diffraction piece, the usage of basic geometric shapes in art is exemplified.  While the work seems to be a bunch of circles, close inspection shows that the larger circles below are “shaded” by lines that create very small squares; so the circles are made up of hundreds of tiny rectangles.



Prior to this week, I had always thought that certain artists tried to just do their best in recreating the natural world in 2D works. I had not considered the studious nature that many go through in attempting to match their works with real world mathematics and geometry, utilizing linear perspective and the golden ratio.  These artists are able to express themselves not only through the art that they create, but also through the mathematical principles that they choose to base their masterpieces on.


Mathematics, science, and art are clearly connected, through some of the features mentioned above.  After this week’s lecture and readings, I personally would have trouble juxtaposing art, science, and mathematics, since I do not believe that these three categories are necessarily separate and can be compared to one another, as they interrelate so closely.


References:
Abbott, Edwin A. Flatland. London, Seeley & Co., 1884.

“Filippo Brunelleschi.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 2017, www.pbs.org/empires/medici/renaissance/brunelleschi.html. Accessed 14 Apr. 2017.

Frantz, Marc. Vanishing Points and Looking at Art. 2000.

Sheridan, Sonia Landy. Generative Systems: Art & Science. 2003, www.sonart.org/book/chapter07/chapter.htm. Accessed 14 Apr. 2017.

“The Last Supper - by Leonardo Da Vinci.” The Last Supper - by Leonardo Da Vinci, 2017, www.leonardodavinci.net/the-last-supper.jsp. Accessed 14 Apr. 2017.

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