1.7: Perspective

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Perspective

Perspective is an art technique for creating an illusion of three-dimensions (depth and space) on a two-dimensional (flat) surface. Perspective is what makes a drawing seem to have form, distance, and look "real." The same rules of perspective apply to all subjects, whether it's a landscape, seascape, still life, interior scene, portrait, or figure drawing. The use of the technique and application of perspective to two-dimensional art has not always been apparent in the artwork created prior to the Italian Renaissance and the end of the Gothic Art Period in Northern Europe. We will first examine the art of earlier time periods and see whether use of perspective is evident. For the most part, storytelling was more important and the illusion of depth is not present. The development and understanding of this concept in art, and the interest to include the illusion of depth in drawings and paintings will come later.