size & proportion

Proportion deals with the relationship between objects /elements on the bases of scale. A balanced and in proportion landscape would have the mountains bigger than the trees if these elements were in close proximity to each other. In essence it makes the work believable and allows the viewer to make sense of what’s in front of them.  One of the most famous studies of proportion in art is da Vinci vitruvian man in which he details the proportions of the human body.

 da Vinci, L. 1490. Vitruvian Man. [online image]. Stanford University. Available from : http://leonardodavinci.stanford.edu/submissions/clabaugh/history/leonardo.html [Accessed 19 March 2012]

Bierstadt, A.1867.  Emigrants Crossing The Plains.[online image]. National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Available from: http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/education/lesson-plans/Emigrants/Emigrants.aspx [Accessed 16 April 2012]

The above painting gives a great view of proportion at work, the cattle and person in foreground are in proportion to each other which then gives us the scale of the trees. The wagon and horse riders are not only in proportion to the trees but also the mountain range in the distance; this also allows us to judge the mass and volume of the elements within the painting.

There are occasions when the artist will deliberately have an element out of proportion to add emphasis and draw attention to it. The Scream by Gerald Scarfe uses this principle to great effect by having the mouth much larger than it would normally be. 

 Scarfe, G. [unknown]. The Scream.[online image]. Gerald Scarfe Official Website. Available from: http://www.geraldscarfe.com/shop/pink-floyd-prints/pink-floyd-the-wall-the-scream/ [Accessed 19 March 2012]