Unity, Scale and Asymmetrical Balance
Unity
There's a variety of ways in which an artist can incorporate unity in their work. Unity can be identified in many ways but more generally, unity works to create a feeling of connectedness within the art. Pictured above is John Flaxman's monument to Agnes Cromwell (1797-1800) which expresses unity through how the characters are touching and overlapping each other. The artist also uses directional focus to create a sense of unity; this piece forces you to follow the eyes of the figures which appear to be focused on the figure in the middle. The figure on the left looks away but if you follow where he is looking you will then follow the curves in his robe which lead to the figure on the right. The figure on the right is staring at the figure in the middle while the figure in the middle stares at the figure on top who is looking back down at it.
Scale
Pictured above is an example of how an artist uses scale to change the meaning of an artwork. Pictured in this street art is a large picture of a young boy looking down through his magnifying glass. This work of art incorporates reality by using its large size (scale distortion) to make any viewer walking by feel as if they are being inspected by the boy. The boy is depicted in great detail, creating a feeling of super realism. Its size along with its realistic qualities make the viewer feel small. If you're standing in front of this piece, you would literally have to look up to see the entirety of it.
Asymmetrical Balance
Asymmetrical balance is when two sides differ from one another, as pictured above in Thomas Cole's The Oxbow (1836). There is a clear indication of contrast between the left and the right side using dark and light. The left side appears dark with gray clouds hovering above a field of grass which is shown using warm/dark colors. This piece also evokes the feeling of darkness in a variety of ways. I personally notice it in the small tree and how it appears as if it could have come from the middle of a scary forest (dark and mystical in a way). The meaning of this piece changes as you follow it to the right, where it transitions into a much lighter mood in comparison to the left side. In addition to the light blue sky and bright green leaves, the still water (which can also serve as the vertical axis) works heavily to evoke the feeling of calm and serenity.
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