Rhythm (art)

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Rhythm: In the upper part of the painting, two floral elements alternate and form an equivalent rhythm. The arrangement is varied on the sides of the window and an unequal rhythm is created.

The rhythm (from the Greek rhythmós: regularity, periodic change, actually: the flowing) (also rhythm) in art is an order principle (surface order principle, form arrangement), which the regular recurrence of picture or form elements in architecture, fine art, ornamentation and Called the art of writing.

description

Rhythm is an art-scientific term of aesthetics that has been adopted primarily from music and linguistics, but also from biology, medicine, nature, psychology and dance. The term cannot be clearly defined. However, it has become common to speak of rhythm when distances, arrangements / positions, colors and shapes of elements (picture elements, pictorial elements, individual elements, design parameters) vary according to a certain regularity and form a sequence. By repeating the sequence at least once, the elements combine to form a linear shape. The rhythmic recurrence of the sequences ensures stability, clarity and order, but at the same time also for variety and dynamism.

Equal and unequal rhythm

Lined up: The painting of the window frame consists of lined up points.

A distinction is made between two categories: the equal and the unequal rhythm, whereby the transitions are fluid.

1. The equivalent rhythm is regular, undifferentiated, strict and bound. It comes very close to a ranking . When ranking, the same or very similar elements are repeated at least three times. The distance and directionality are retained. Because of the constant repetition, a sequence appears disciplined, equal, orderly and calm, but often also monotonous and static.

With the same rhythm, the same or similar elements are repeated. However, the distances, arrangements, colors and / or shapes vary slightly. The equivalent rhythm appears less monotonous and static, but more varied, livelier and gently moved.

2. The unequal rhythm is irregular, differentiated, freer and unbound. He repeats the same, similar or different elements. And the distances, arrangements, colors and shapes vary to a greater extent. The unequal rhythm appears varied, dynamic, free, lively, but also uneven, restless and arbitrary.

history

Unequal rhythm: facade of the Mainz town hall, seen from the iron tower. Jockel-Fuchs-Platz 1, 1970–1974, architects: Arne Jacobsen and Otto Weitling.

The term rhythm already appeared in ancient times. It describes a system that determines the structure of a figure or an image and thus gives the impression of life and movement. Later the term exclusively referred to music, philosophy and people. In the 19th century there were reservations about transferring the term rhythm to architecture and the visual arts. It was only with the German art historians August Schmarsow and Wilhelm Pinder that the realization took hold that rhythm also plays a role in art and architecture.

Examples

Architecture: Mainz Town Hall

Unequal rhythm: Piero della Francesca, Pala Montefeltro, between 1466 and 1474, tempera on wood, 251 × 172 cm, Pinacoteca di Brera. Epoch: Renaissance.

The facade wall of the six-storey building is made of light gray natural stone (southern Norwegian marble “Porsgrunn”). The wall is folded in a zigzag shape. The window fronts over five floors fit in between the folds. Dark bronze grids made of anodized aluminum are placed in front of the windows as sun protection. The light, narrow, continuous, closed, vertical supports create a varied contrast to the dark, wider, open grid grids. On the left and right outside and in the middle of the entrance area there are wider wall areas. Three elements alternate, which are very contrasting. This means that there is an unequal rhythm here.

Fine arts - painting: Piero della Francesca , Pala Montefeltro

The altarpiece shows Mary with the sleeping baby Jesus, surrounded by six saints and four angels, together with the donor of the picture, Federico da Montefeltro, the Duke of Urbino.

The architecture in the background shows some equivalent rhythms. In the lower part, different colored marble mirrors alternate with fluted pilasters. In the barrel vault above the apse and the side arches, rosettes are lined up in coffers.

Equivalent rhythm: Max Bill: Rhythmus im Raum, 1994, granite, 3.2 × 10.65 × 18.45 m, European Patent Office, Bayerstraße 34, Hof 1, Munich. Style: Concrete Art.

The six saints and the four angels stand in a semicircle around the enthroned Mary. There is a change from in front of and behind each other. The angels at the back are shown a little smaller. The slightly different heights of the heads and the different colors of the clothes create an unequal rhythm.

Fine arts - plastic: Max Bill , rhythm in space

37 elongated stone blocks or stone pillars made of granite are arranged like building blocks to form a simple meander. They form nine gates that are arranged at right angles in the room. The simple change from vertical to horizontal and the up and down movement result in an equivalent rhythm.

Ornamentation: Mexican hand or kitchen towel

Equivalent rhythm: Mexican hand or kitchen towel, Mexico, early 19th century, lower edge of a hand or kitchen towel with embroidery on cotton, Cleveland Museum of Art, 47.2 × 42.9 cm
Equivalent rhythm: Sütterlin script (German script)

Ornaments are one of our oldest cultural holdings. You can find them on architecture, design objects, on furniture, in fashion or in gardens. The photograph shows a traditional Mexican hand or kitchen towel. Stylized flowers are embroidered between zigzag lines on the lower edge. The individual forms remain essentially the same. Only the flower color changes between pink and light blue and the small areas above are alternating pink and yellow. In addition, the two outer elements are designed differently from the rest. An equivalent rhythm is created. This shows how a simple object receives the charm of richness, splendor and exuberance through a rhythmic ornament - the opposite of sobriety, the reasonable and the functional.

font

There are many differences when it comes to fonts, such as handwriting or computer fonts. Sometimes the line width stays the same or it changes from wide to bold. Or the shapes are more jagged or preferably round. The relationship in the arrangement and design of the letters creates a rhythm that ensures good legibility and optimal reading flow. However, excessive deviations from the regular letter shape or the normal letter spacing can severely restrict legibility.

The Sütterlin script, or German script, impresses with its angular shapes. A few round shapes, preferably with the capital letters, interrupt the even zigzag line. The Sütterlin script appears very regular and accurate. In this way, this font forms an equivalent rhythm.

literature

  1. Ludger Alscher et al. (Ed.): Lexicon of Art. 1st edition, volume 4, keyword: rhythm. VEB EA Seemann, Buch- und Kunstverlag, Leipzig 1977, pp. 120–121.
  2. Günter Baumgart, Angela Müller, Gerhard Zeugner: Color design - building decor, writing, drawing . 1st edition, Cornelsen Verlag, Berlin 1996, pp. 124-125.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ludger Alscher et al. (Ed.): Lexikon der Kunst . 1st edition. tape 4 , keyword: rhythm. VEB EA Seemann, book and art publisher, Leipzig 1977, p. 120 and 121 .
  2. ↑ Ludger Alscher et al. (Ed.): Lexikon der Kunst . 1st edition. tape 4 , keyword: rhythm. VEB EA Seemann, book and art publisher, Leipzig 1977, p. 121 .
  3. ↑ rhythm. Retrieved on July 26, 2019 (German).
  4. ↑ Ludger Alscher et al. (Ed.): Lexikon der Kunst . 1st edition. tape 4 , keyword: rhythm. VEB EA Seemann, book and art publisher, Leipzig 1977, p. 120 .
  5. ↑ Sights in Mainz. Retrieved on July 26, 2019 (German).
  6. ↑ Ursula Mock: Are ornaments "optical sirens". 2004, accessed on July 26, 2019 (German).