Artist
Art Theory
Artwork
Critical Thinking
100
When and where was M. (Maurits) C. (Cornelis) Escher born？
1898, Netherlands
100
Which art theory did M.C. Escher apply in his three artworks?
Positive and Negative Space
100
What are the names of the three artworks from M.C. Escher?
Swans
Day and Night
Sky and Water I
100
Which space occupies the most in the following picture?
This picture has mostly negative space.
200
M.C. Escher began his professional life as a...?
As a graphic artist, making woodcuts and lithographs.
200
What is positive space in art?
The main subject of our artwork.
200
Identify the positive and negative space in this self-portrait by Frida Kahlo.
The positive space is Frida Kahlo herself. The negative space is everything around her, such as the monkey, cat, two dragonflies, two butterflies, and foliage.
200
Which space occupies the most in the following picture?
This picture has mostly positive space.
400
What is the defining moment for M.C. Escher as an artist?
When he visited the Alhambra University in Spain, he became fascinated by the geometric decoration of the Moorish tiles.
400
What is negative space in art?
The background or space that surrounds the main subject.
400
Identify the positive and negative space in the following artwork.
The tree and ground (in black) are the positive space. The background (in white) is the negative space.
400
Do you think "positive and negative space" is only a theory of art for artists to use in their work? Can we relate to it with real-life examples?
"Positive and negative space" is closely related to our real life. In fact, it teaches us how to look at the world in an artistic and aesthetic way.
Example: Canadian Winter
600
What is M.C. Escher famous for?
Tessellation
600
Does "positive and negative space" has to be symmetric?
No, it can be symmetric and asymmetric.
Example:
600
Identify all the positive and negative spaces in the artwork Sky and Water I?
At the top, the positive space is blackbirds, and the negative space is the white background.
At the bottom, the positive space is white fish, and the negative space is the black background.
600
What will happen if there is little negative space?
If the negative space is too little, the work will become cluttered and busy, with every element in the work screaming for the viewer's attention.
800
What is Tessellation?
Tessellation is about regular patterns that divide the plane. The patterns split the plane into lots of tiles, and those tiles fit each other perfectly. They do not overlap, and they do not leave any gaps.
800
Which one is more valuable? Positive Space or Negative Space?
Positive Space and Negative Space are both equally valuable. They interact with each other, such as negative space balances out positive space so that a visual piece does not overwhelm viewers.
800
What is the positive and negative space in the following photograph?
The positive space is the clouds, and the negative space is the sky as the background.
800
Why is positive and negative space important in art?
Artists use positive and negative space to create a sense of balance and rhythm. Balance is one of the basic principles of design and refers to how well all the elements are balanced with each other.
Example: Yin and Yang
