Week Two

 Tuesday, April 7, 2021

    Week Two: Math + Art

    The connection between math and art is apparent in today's culture and artwork. The introduction of the concept of a fourth dimension in modern art was explained by Linda Henderson in her article. In art, the fourth dimension depicts "differing proportions of geometry and mysticism as well as space and time" (Henderson, 206) to create a range of artistic interpretations from viewers.  The role of perspective and other factors such as the Golden Ratio, mentioned by Victoria Vesna, also allows a broad view of how an artwork is perceived. 

Example of the fourth dimension 

    The introduction of a new art style in the early 20th century directly relates mathematics to art. Cubism is an art form that uses geometric shapes to depict humans or human-like forms. Artists such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque use mathematics such as geometry and shapes to create modern art and have influenced artworks made today. One of the main goals of Cubism is to use to different angles to represent different perspectives of the same object on one plane. In Edwin Abbott's article, he demonstrates the idea of how motion and angles changes the way objects such as ovals and triangles are observed on paper. Using mathematics, the artist is able to distort reality on a single plane and show depth in one painting. 

Painting by Pablo Picasso in the early 20th century

    In lecture this week, we learned about how Leonardo da Vinci studied the geometry of perspective and differentiated between artificial and natural perspective. In his artwork The Last Supper, he incorporates both types of perspective and uses mathematics to create more realistic paintings. Even though mathematics and art are two completely different subjects, artists use mathematical concepts to express themselves creatively. In science, both mathematics and art are used to help convey scientific ideas for visual learners (i.e. graphs) and expand on scientific theories.

Image of The Last Supper, created by Leonardo da Vinci

References:

“1909 To 1912.” Pablo Picasso's Cubism Period, www.pablopicasso.org/cubism.jsp.

Abbott, Edwin Abbott. “Flatland.” Flatland, by E. A. Abbott, 1884, Ibiblio, www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/eaa/FL.HTM.

Henderson, Linda Dalrymple. “The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion.” Leonardo. 17.3 (1984): 205-210. Print.

“Last Supper.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Last-Supper-fresco-by-Leonardo-da-Vinci. 

“Symmetry and the Fourth Dimension (Part 10).” Azimuth, 4 June 2013, johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com/2013/06/04/symmetry-and-the-fourth-dimension-part-10/.

Vesna, Victoria. “Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.” YouTube, 9 Apr. 2012, youtu.be/mMmq5B1LKDg.