Week 2 Blog Post

 

Dr. Vesna discusses the influence that mathematical developments such as linear perspective and vanishing points had on art, especially artists Brunelleschi & Düru.  (Vesna). Something surprising I learned about was the influence of mathematics on renaissance paintings. Considering Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper.’ To me the background of the painting is just a setting without much significance- instead my  eyes are drawn to the figures. Renaissance art to me is highly emotional and dramatic. Before the lecture material this week, I would not have considered renaissance art as influenced by mathematics. However, now it is clear the role that perspective, symmetry, and geometry plays in this art piece. 

(Get Your Guide)

 

(Google Arts and Culture)

Oath of the Horatii by David also exemplifies this fusion of art & mathematics. While these pieces were painted 200 years apart– the lasting influence of perspective & geometry remains.

Frantz’s article was intriguing to me. I would have never thought that explicit mathematical equations had a place in creating art pieces. Frantz states, “If we view art from the wrong viewpoint, it can appear distorted—a cube can look like a dumpster” (Frantz). It is interesting how later art styles sought to mimic the “wrong” viewpoints. For example cubism, which aimed to distort and confuse the viewer's perspective. Especially considering pieces such as Malevich’s The Knife Grinder.

(Britannica)

Henderson discusses artists utilizing Euclidean geometry to reflect freedom, liberation, and a higher reality (Henderson). Her article showcases the interrelation between the two cultures, by demonstrating how advancements in science, Einstein’s theory of relativity, has a direct influence on the arts, as utilized by the surrealists and cubists (Henderson). If art and science were truly distinct cultures, Einstein’s theory would have no impact on developments in the modern art world. Henderson & Franz’s article aid in understanding the underlying mathematical principles behind Malevich's work. 

In Flatland, the narrator explores the social hierarchy and inheritance based on different shapes (Abbott). By utilizing mathematical concepts and visuals to depict the social hierarchy of Flatland, the narrative offers a non-contentious perspective on social relations. Mathematics is a relatively non-contentious field, and its use for art & social commentary provides an alternative way to see the world.

In conclusion, Artcom states that their purpose is to give people experiences that would be “otherwise unimaginable” (Artcom). I think this idea explains the juxtaposition of mathematics, art, and science. Mathematical concepts allow art to expand in innovative new directions.

Works Cited

Abbott, Edwin A. Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions.

ART+COM Studios. “ART+COM Studios- About us.” ART+COM Studios, 2024, https://artcom.de/en/about/. Accessed 12 April 2024.

Britannica. “Kazimir Malevich | Biography, Art, Suprematism, White on White, & Facts.” Britannica, 25 March 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kazimir-Malevich. Accessed 12 April 2024.

Frantz, Marc. Lesson 3: Vanishing Points and Looking at Art. PDF document. 2000, pp. 3-10, https://www.cs.ucf.edu/courses/cap6938-02/refs/VanishingPoints.pdf.

Get Your Guide. “Rome: Leonardo Da Vinci Experience Entry Ticket.” Get Your Guide, https://www.getyourguide.com/leonardo-da-vinci-experience-l111752/leonardo-da-vinci-exhibition-the-vatican-t72072/.

Google Arts and Culture. “The Oath of the Horatii Jacques-Louis David 1786.” Google Arts and Culture, Google, 2024, https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-oath-of-the-horatii/pQHdi199vQiPkw?hl=en&ms=%7B%22x%22%3A0.49999999999999933%2C%22y%22%3A0.5%2C%22z%22%3A9.23170610680865%2C%22size%22%3A%7B%22width%22%3A1.9277107808160447%2C%22height%22%3A1.2375000000000003%7D%. Accessed 12 April 2024.

Henderson, Linda Dalrymple. “The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion.” Leonardo, vol. 17, no. 3, 1984, pp. 205-210. JSTOR.

Vesna, Victoria. Unit 2 Math + Art Lecture. 2024.