Unit 2: Math and Art

I have gained a great amount of insight this week about how math has influenced art and science. In order to draw certain art forms and create a certain look, artists used mathematical formulas for exact measurements. In 1413, Filippo Brunelleschi of Italy made the single vanishing point “ in which all parallel lines on a plane should converge” (Vesna). In an image with a single vanishing point, I learned that the lines do not have to be parallel on a picture plane but they will intersect on the image to create the vanishing point (Frantz). The mathematical formulas allowed Brunelleschi to control the perspective of the spectator. Secondly, Alberti’s floor covered in square tiles is another example of using a single vanishing point to create perspective. By using a grid, the perpendicular edges “converge to the center point of the pigment” (Vesna). Lastly, “the golden ratio” taught me to appreciate the geometry involved in creating artwork. “The golden ratio” uses geometry to create specific angles and lines in the artwork, and is seen in “The Mona Lisa”.


Picture 1

Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” helps me understand the influence of mathematics in art and science. DaVinci combined art an science to advance both in a remarkable way" (Mathtivities). It is a “symbol and icon in art and science” (Vesna) because without math, this piece of artwork wouldn’t be possible. Da Vinci uses pen and ink to draw the ideal human proportions of a man. Even though the drawing was done in 1487, it greatly influenced geometrical architecture throughout the entire twentieth century.


Picture 2

By using mathematics in their creative work, artists and scientists have taught us that math allows us to create extraordinary pieces. Maurits Escher is a prime example, "as his work developed he drew great inspiration from mathematical ideas he read about" (Platonic Realms). Things like perspective and the golden ratio bring 2d pictures to 3d. "The Golden ratio is a special number found by dividing a line into two parts so the longer part divided by the smaller part is also equal to the whole length divided by the longer part" (Elaine). Mathematical formulas and geometric shapes makes the picture more detailed and complex. Perspective and a single vanishing point has allowed artists to control the view of the spectator. When math and art work together to compliment each other, innovation occurs.


Picture 3



Citations
Picture 1: http://www.watercolorpainting.com/perspective_1_2_3_point.htm
Picture 2: http://www.learner.org/courses/globalart/work/135/expert/1/index.html
Picture 3: http://www.op-art.co.uk/

Frantz, Marc. Lesson 3: Vanishing Points and Looking at Art (2000): n. pag. Http://www.cs.ucf.edu/courses/cap6938-02/refs/VanishingPoints.pdf. Web.

J, Elaine. "What Is the Golden Ratio?" LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 24 June 2013. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

"Proportion: DaVinci's 'Vitruvian Man'" Proportion: DaVinci's 'Vitruvian Man'N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

"The Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher." The Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher. N.p., 1997. Web. <http://platonicrealms.com/minitexts/Mathematical-Art-Of-M-C-Escher/>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg>.