Symmetrical balance can also occur biaxially, which means that the composition is balanced vertically and horizontally. View of the south side of the Taj Mahal, Agra, India Yves Picq, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons In both architectural examples, there is an equal placement of architectural structures, especially the columns, which gives it an overall symmetry. Symmetrical balance does not only occur in paintings, but also in architecture like the Parthenon (432 BC) or the Taj Mahal (1632-1653). For example, the Apostles sitting next to the central figure of Jesus Christare all different, however, the background is rendered in similar shapes on the left and right-hand sides. In this painting, approximate symmetry is utilized, while most of the composition is equal in how the art elements are placed, there are differences here and there. The Last Supper (1495-1498) by Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Symmetrical balance in art examples includes none other than the famous The Last Supper (1495-1498) by Leonardo da Vinci. We will find this technique commonly utilized in Academic art from the Renaissance period when the primary genres for artworks also centered around History and Religious paintings. The common characteristics related to it include a sense of safety, harmony, order, rationality, and stability in artwork, however, it can become too boring or monotonous if overutilized. Symmetrical balance in visual compositions is widely utilized in art of all modalities. This is when the parts of both halves do not share the same identical or mirroring qualities, although the shapes or sizes may still be similar. Therefore, if the composition is separated horizontally, the top and bottom halves would mirror one another, and similarly, with vertical separation, the left and right halves would mirror one another.Īmerican Cutout of Animals (19th century) by an unknown artist National Gallery of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsĪlthough symmetrical parts of an art composition are usually identical, these can also differ in slight variations, which is referred to as approximate symmetry. This can be divided into horizontal, vertical, or diagonal sections.
The composition’s halves are separated by the mid-line or otherwise referred to as the “central axis”. This type of balance in art also includes a “mirroring” of halves, which is referred to as “Inverted symmetry”. Symmetrical balance is also termed “formal balance” in art, which means that there is an equal balance between both halves of the visual composition and the images are identical to each other. Therefore, when it comes to balance in art, while there are three primary types of techniques we can use, some art sources mention four, so we will discuss the four main types of balance in art below. These can be utilized in a myriad of ways to apply the principles more diversely. There are usually several types of techniques available in each of the principles of art. The Delivery of the Keys (1481-1482) by Pietro Perugino, Sistine Chapel, Rome Pietro Perugino, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The “distribution” of the art elements is what determines the type of balance in an artwork. This can range from painting, sculpture, drawing, or graphic art. Let us look closer at balance in art, which is commonly described as the “visual weight” of an artwork. All of these elements can be combined in thousands of ways according to the principles of art. These are, namely, line, form, shape, color, value, space, and texture. If you are not familiar with the principles of art, these act as guidelines or rules, so to say, that assist in composing an artwork into an identifiable format.įurthermore, an art composition consists of the various art elements, of which there are primarily seven.
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