1.1: Line, Shape, and the Principle of Contrast
1. The elements of art form the basic ________ of art.
a. media d. techniques
b. symbols e. methods
c. vocabulary
2. The principles of design are a kind of ________ that artists apply to the elements of art.
a. technique d. logo
b. perspective e. grammar
c. sketch
3. A flat work of art has two dimensions: ________ and width.
a. height d. size
b. depth e. mass
c. breadth
4. The dark printed words on the page of a book are easily read because they are printed on a light
ground. This is an example of the principle of ________.
a. harmony d. proportion
b. variety e. emphasis
c. contrast
5. One definition of this element is “a mark that connects two points.”
a. line d. value
b. shape e. mass
c. color
6. The line that defines the edge of a shape is called the ________.
a. contour d. volume
b. outline e. scale
c. implied line
7. The lines that create the image of the Nazca Spider “drawing” define the ________ of a ________.
a. contour . . . volume d. mass . . . form
b. direction . . . line e. pattern . . . square
c. outline . . . shape
8. The Nazca Lines are engraved into the surface of the earth, but the image can only be seen from
above. Since this artwork was made before man had the ability to hover above the Earth, what
reasons might the artist(s) have had for creating this work?
9. The artist Dosio, in his drawing of the Church of Saint Spirito, created an impression of three
dimensions by using line to show the division between ________.
a. planes d. colors
b. time periods e. two figures
c. mountains
10. In his drawing of the Church of Saint Spirito, Dosio used line to accentuate the patterned surface of
the ceiling and differentiate it from the ________.
a. sky outside
b. walls
c. floor
d. stained-glass windows
e. ceiling in the building next door
11. Compare and contrast the visual differences between the modern photograph of the Church of
Saint Spirito (1.1.2b) with Dosio’s drawing (1.1.2a). What did the artist change?
12. In the illustration from the manga Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, the artists used diagonal
lines to create a strong sense of ________.
a. calm d. happiness
b. movement e. humor
c. sadness
13. Graphic artists, like the manga group CLAMP, know that by arranging lines in diagonals it is
possible to indicate movement and energy. Suggest two images from popular culture that use
diagonals to convey a sense of movement and energy. For each image, give reasons why the artist
might have wanted to create an energetic composition.
14. Pick the three words that would best describe a regular line.
a. controlled e. cool-headed
b. wild f. expressive
c. geometric g. emotional
d. organic
15. Mel Bochner used ________ line in the work Vertigo because it is controlled and measured.
a. directional d. diagonal
b. irregular e. regular
c. organic
16. In a 1941 drawing the British artist Barbara Hepworth used line to plan a ________.
a. print d. building
b. painting e. party
c. sculpture
17. Three words that can describe irregular line are:
a. loose e. chaotic
b. constrained f. ruled
c. wild g. controlled
d. measured
18. The French artist André Masson wished to explore the psychological source of creativity through
his “automatic” ink drawings of ________ lines.
a. ruled d. irregular
b. controlled e. calm
c. horizontal
19. The scribbled appearance of Jean Dubuffet’s Suite avec 7 Personnages characterizes it as a
drawing that exhibits ________.
a. irregular line d. ruled line
b. regular line e. controlled line
c. measured line
20. In his work Woodstock Road, Woodstock, New York, 1924 George Bellows used both regular and
irregular line. What might the advantages be for an artist who combines both of these types of line
in their work?
21. A line that is a continuous mark is ________.
a. an organic line d. a chaotic line
b. an implied line e. an irregular line
c. an actual line
22. A line that gives viewers the impression that they are seeing a line where there is not a continuous
mark is ________.
a. an irregular line d. a chaotic line
b. an actual line e. a directional line
c. an implied line
23. Some Jewish texts create images using this kind of line made up of small letters.
a. chaotic line d. implied line
b. actual line e. pencil line
c. regular line
24. The Dutch design team Sauerkids used ________ lines of dots and dashes in its work to create
exciting visual rhythms.
a. implied d. regular
b. actual e. geometric
c. chalk
25. By orienting lines so that they attract attention to a specific area of a work of art the artist is using
________.
a. chaotic line d. measured line
b. directional line e. actual line
c. implied line
26. In James Allen’s etching The Connectors, an image of workers erecting the Empire State Building,
the artist created a feeling of great height by using ________ line to lead the viewer’s eye
diagonally downward.
a. directional d. regular
b. horizontal e. implied
c. communicative
27. In Francisco Goya’s The Third of May, 1808, the artist used a variety of actual and implied lines to
attract attention to specific points within the composition. Lines that draw the viewer’s attention in
this way are known as ________ lines.
a. directional d. irregular
b. regular e. organic
c. contour
28. If vertical lines communicate strength, horizontals calm, and diagonals action, then a vacation
resort might want to choose a logo consisting of ________ lines in order to show peaceful repose.
a. vertical d. horizontal
b. diagonal e. scribbled
c. chaotic
29. Thinking of what you have learned about the communicative qualities of line, why might Carolyn
Davidson have made the choices she did when designing the Nike logo? Find two other logos and
explain how they use communicative line to express the values of an organization.
30. The combination of jarring vertical and diagonal lines in Vincent van Gogh’s The Bedroom creates
an atmosphere of ________.
a. rest d. expectation
b. happiness e. anxiety
c. calm
31. Contour line defines the outer edge or profile of an object, and can be used to suggest a volume in
space.
32. Henri Matisse drew Woman Seated in an Armchair using ________ line so that he could represent
her figure with great economy while being descriptive.
a. measured d. irregular
b. directional e. contour
c. regular
33. In Pablo Picasso’s Blonde Woman in Profile, the artist uses a ________ line that follows the
contours of the model’s profile.
a. continuous d. irregular
b. regular e. inorganic
c. jagged
34. A shape made of perfectly straight lines would probably be classified as ________ shape.
a. an organic d. a biomorphic
b. a regular e. an implied
c. a geometric
35. This type of shape is composed of unpredictable, irregular lines.
a. organic d. measured
b. geometric e. actual
c. implied
36. Miriam Schapiro’s collage Baby Blocks combines two different kinds of shape. ________ is the
term used to describe a shape that suggests the natural world, while the term geometric suggests
mathematical regularity.
a. conceptual d. organic
b. regular e. implied
c. artificial
37. The sphere that designer Saul Bass created for the AT&T logo is not defined by a continuous
boundary. This type of shape, which can be suggested by dots or lines that do not connect, is
termed ________ shape.
a. an organic d. an implied
b. a geometric e. a negative
c. a regular
38. A shape on a flat picture surface that is defined by surrounding empty space is known as ________
shape.
a. an implied d. an organic
b. a geometric e. an actual
c. a positive
39. An empty space defined by its surround is known as ________ shape.
a. an implied d. an organic
b. a negative e. an actual
c. a geometric
40. In his Obey campaign poster Shepard Fairey used a striking contrast between positive and
________ shapes to attract the attention of the public.
a. organic d. negative
b. geometric e. implied
c. figure–ground reversal
41. In her painting Music—Pink and Blue II, Georgia O’Keeffe emphasized the blue ________ space
in order to attract the viewer’s attention into a deep interior.
a. ground d. organic
b. negative e. implied
c. flat
42. In Noma Bar’s poster image Gun Crime, which shape dominates, the positive or the negative?
Why?
43. In a two-dimensional work, when the figure becomes the background and the background becomes
the figure, we perceive ________.
a. a figure–ground reversal d. a geometric shape
b. an organic shape e. a form
c. an implied shape
44. The positive and negative shapes in M. C. Escher’s print Sky and Water I balance each other and
are an example of ________.
a. etching d. figure–ground reversal
b. geometric shape e. collage
c. actual line