Art

Shape Shape: an area that is defined by a contour or edge; 2D ONLY A shape is a given area with a border. This border does not have to be a line. It can be any type of edge created. Think of a lawn outside a house. What defines the shape of the lawn? There is no outline, or "contour" surrounding the yard. The shape is defined by the edge between where the grass stops and the sidewalk begins. A "contour" or outline can also define the shape. A fence around the perimeter of the lawn would be a good example of a contour. Some terms that describe the general characteristics of shapes.

Geometric Shape Vs. Organic Shape

Geometric shapes are those which appear mathematical or machine made. These might be squares, triangles, fairly precise circles, shapes that repeat, etc. Mondrian's Broadway Boogie Woogie of 1942-1943 is an excellent example of an artwork that uses geometric shape. Lots of right angles and straight lines, seemingly very precise in its measurement — very "machine-made".

In the following painting by Leger (below), notice how even the curved shapes are geometric because they are so consistent in the way the move down the image.

> 

Organic refers to shapes with natural sources, usually shapes which are rounded in a random fashion. Trees, puddles, rocks, clouds, a child’s first scribbles with crayons — all are good examples of organic shapes. Georgia O'Keeffe, Abstraction White Rose, 1927 (below) where the petals of the flower are mostly organic shapes.

 

Shapes can be a combination of organic and geometric! If this is the case, are the shapes a little organic or a little geometric. Hokusai’m m m s 1833 print "Kirifuri Falls" (below) is a good example of something that is both organic and geometric. The flowing water is fairly organic, but the general repetition of shapes almost creating a pattern makes them geometric as well.

 

Hard Vs. Sharp Edges

The remaining characteristics of shape are the quality of its edges and how it interacts with the shapes around it. 

Hard edges: the edges of the shape are crisp and in focus.  As we see in the Henri Matisse's 1953 La Gerbe below, edges can be very sharp and distinct.

 

Soft edges: the edge of the shape is blurred and hard to see. These are unfocused, sometimes feathery edges that look as though they’ve been smudged to some degree. Mark Rothko's 11958 Untitled (Seagram Mural) contains geometric shapes with soft edges.

How Shapes Interact

The quality of the edges is closely tied to how the shapes interact with each other. Do the shapes "bump" into each other, "blend" into each other or "overlap" with each other? Bumping refers to shapes pushing up against other shapes without "giving way". Blending occurs when edges are soft and one shape melts or runs into the other. Overlapping is when one shape appears to sit in front of the other, blocking its view. It is rare that only one of these qualities is occurring or that they only occur to a given degree. 

Try each exercise below.

1. Examine this painting by Gorky (below). What is the general quality of the shapes (organic or geometric), what sort of edges do they have and how do they interact?

  >

There is not one exact answer. The correct response is in using the terms as we’ve defined them to describe how you see this painting. Usually, students’ responses on this image is that the shapes are mostly organic with fairly soft edges, though some are harder in areas. Most shapes seem to blend into each other, but there are areas where harder edges on the shapes make them appear to overlap more.

2. Try this painting by Picasso (below) titled Portrait of Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler of 1910. What is the general quality of the shapes (organic or geometric), what sort of edges do they have and how do they interact?

Mostly geometric shapes with both hard and "medium hard" edges. They interact all three ways, but overlapping seems to dominate. It almost appears as though they’re sliding on top of each other.

3. How about the 1904 lithograph by Pierre-Auguste Renoir titled Ambroise Vollard below?

Definitely organic with fairly soft edges.