Abstraction& Gestalt

Deborah CiccarelliARTS 131

Economizition & Abstraction

• Economizing is simplifying

• Abstracting is often more extreme

• Abstraction relies more on color, line style, and rhythm more than representational forms

Picasso

This illustration is economized but not

truly abstracted. We can still recognize

the forms clearly.

JenkinsPhenomena Waves without Wind

MotherwellBeside the Sea with Bulkhead

KandinskyOn White II

Piet MondrianComposition II in Red, Blue, & Yellow

Gestalt & Economizing

• When economizing or abstracting, you can use the theory behind perception to assist you in communicating your forms

Gestalt Theory& Principles

• 1890 Gestalt theory of psychology and perception

• Gestalt = shape

• Principles that artists can use to present visual information

Gestalt Principle: Similarity

• Objects that share visual characteristics (color, size, value, texture, etc.) will be seen as belonging together

Hint: Do you see the red box?

Gestalt Principle: Proximity

• Objects that are closer together will be seen as belonging together

Hint: Do you see 2 columns first? Or 6 rows?

Hint: Do you see how the text is interpreted differently because of the changes in proximity (spacing).

Gestalt Principle: Continuity

• We prefer objects that continue, and will perceive many figures as continuous before they are perceived as separate shapes

Hint: Do you see a plus sign and a circle? They are perceived as continuous and not separate lines.

Gestalt Principle: Closure

• We tend to see complete figures even when information is missing in part of a figure; our mind reacts to familiar things

Hint: Do you see the triangle? We see the missing piece - we close the space visually

Gestalt Principle: Figure / Ground

• The smaller object is perceived as figure while the larger is perceived as ground

Hint: In all examples, the small box is the figure (foreground) no matter what the color or value.

Gestalt Principle: Symmetry

• Whole figures are perceived prior to individual parts that make up a figure

Hint: Do you see the chain before the pieces?

Gestalt Summary:

• Our mind perceives wholes out of incomplete elements

• We search for balance or equilibrium which creates stability

• Things are affected by their surroundings or context

Figure / Ground Ambiguity

Based on the Gestalt principles of Figure and Ground, we can fool the eye.

Which is the figure? Which is the ground?

Is the white the figure against a black background? Or is the black the figure against a white background? It could be either, therefore, it is ambiguous.

Escher’s Work with Figure/Ground Ambiguity

Escher’s Work with Figure/Ground Ambiguity

Economizing & Abstracting

• Return to Line or Shape (our basic forms)

• More attention must be paid to balance, movement, and rhythm.

An example of abstracting an image from the original to line and then to shape