Elements of Art: Space

Space

Space means the area in and around an object.

Space can describe empty or full areas, areas that are far away or nearby, and areas that are huge or small.

Artists show two kinds of space, positive and negative.

Positive space is the area occupied by an object.

Negative space is the area around the object, which defines the object’s edges.


Example of: Postitve Space vs. Negative Space	Historical Example of : 1. change in size 2. overlapping 3. atmospheric perspective (less detail further away Gustave Caillebotte, Paris Street, Rainy Day, 1877. Oil on canvas, 83 ½” X 108 ¾”. The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.	Historical Example of: positive space and negative space in a sculpture Auguste Rodin, The Cathedral, original stone version executed in 1908, cast 1955. Bronze, 25” X 12 2/3” X 13 1/3”. Musee Rodin, Paris, France.

Postitve Space vs. Negative Space

1. change in size

2. overlapping

3. atmospheric perspective (less detail further away

Gustave Caillebotte, Paris Street, Rainy Day, 1877. Oil on canvas, 83 ½” X 108 ¾”. The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.

positive space and negative space in a sculpture

Auguste Rodin, The Cathedral, original stone version executed in 1908, cast 1955. Bronze, 25” X 12 2/3” X 13 1/3”. Musee Rodin, Paris, France.


Historical Example of: positive space and negative space. Which part is positive? Can you see the vases or the faces? Jasper Johns, Cups 4 Picasso, 1972. Lithograph, printed in color composition: 14 1/8” X 32 ¼”. Museum of Modern Art, New York.

positive space and negative space. Which part is positive? Can you see the vases or the faces?

Jasper Johns, Cups 4 Picasso, 1972. Lithograph, printed in color composition: 14 1/8” X 32 ¼”. Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Please stay with 2 colors. A light color and a dark color look best together.

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