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5 Things to Know About Space in Art

September 2013

Wayne Thiebaud (b. 1920), Cakes, 1963. Oil on canvas, 60x72 in. Gift in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art from the Collectors Committee, the 50th Anniversary Gift Committee, and The Circle, with Additional Support from the Abrams Family in Memory of Harry N. Abrams 1991.1.1. National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. Art © Wayne Thiebaud/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY.

How do the shadows help viewers understand space in this painting?

1. HIGHLIGHTS AND SHADOWS ADD DEPTH

Wayne Thiebaud is known for his paintings of desserts, which are shown in neat rows as if they have been mass-produced. In his Cakes, painted in 1963, Thiebaud used impasto (im-PAHS-toh), or paint added to the canvas in thick layers, to illustrate creamy frosting on the desserts. The artist painted highlights and shadows on the curved edges of the cakes, defining their round shapes. The cakes are on thin pedestals that rise above a clean, white countertop, just like at a bakery. The cakes are shown from above with dark, circular shadows under each one. These shadows emphasize the space between the colorful cakes and the stark white plane below.  

Wayne Thiebaud is known for his paintings of desserts, which are shown in neat rows as if they have been mass-produced. In his Cakes, painted in 1963, Thiebaud used impasto (im-PAHS-toh), or paint added to the canvas in thick layers, to illustrate creamy frosting on the desserts. The artist painted highlights and shadows on the curved edges of the cakes, defining their round shapes. The cakes are on thin pedestals that rise above a clean, white countertop, just like at a bakery. The cakes are shown from above with dark, circular shadows under each one. These shadows emphasize the space between the colorful cakes and the stark white plane below.  

Janet Fish, (b. 1938), Orange Bowl and Yellow Apples, 1980. Oil on canvas, 46x50 in. Art © Janet Fish/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY.

Why is the mirrored surface important in this painting?

2. REFLECTIONS REVEAL MORE

Janet Fish is an American painter who spent time on the island of Bermuda when she was growing up. The island’s bright colors and dazzling light influenced her work. Her 1980 painting Orange Bowl and Yellow Apples shows glass bowls filled with fruit and flowers. Bright highlights circle the edges of the blue bowl. Fish added highlights like these to emphasize the shape of each object. The bowls sit on a mirrored surface. Fish painted the undersides of the bowls, which are reflected in the mirror. This technique adds depth and interest to the composition.

Tom Wesselmann (1931-2004), Still Life with Fuji Chrysanthemums (Double Layer), 1985/92. Alkyd on cut-out steel, 60x75 in. Photo Credit: Jeffrey Sturges. Art © Estate of Tom Wesselmann/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY.

How do the contour lines show space?

3. CONTOUR LINES CREATE CLARITY

American artist Tom Wesselmann created his Still Life with Fuji Chrysanthemums (Double Layer) with contour lines. This work, which started as a drawing, is made of flat, laser-cut steel that hangs on the wall like a painting. Wesselmann stylized the objects with loose, scribbled lines that suggest shape and three-dimensionality. Notice how the lines on the fruit act like shadows.

4. NEGATIVE SPACE CAN BE A POSITIVE

David Hockney (b. 1937), Halaconia in Green Vase, 1996. Oil on canvas, 72x72 in. Photo Credit: Steve Oliver. © David Hockney.

Why is it important that the entire table is visible in this still life?

The negative space around the table in Halaconia In Green Vase, by British painter David Hockney, is just as important as the positive space. The entire table is visible, as are the floor and the walls around it. Hockney accentuated the plain blue wall in the background by adding subtle texture. The objects on the table are deliberately arranged with space between them. The long yellow-green stems of the flowers draw the viewer’s eye to the upper edge of the canvas, then plunge downward. This movement and the colorful flower petals against the cool blue wall emphasize the space around them.

The negative space around the table in Halaconia In Green Vase, by British painter David Hockney, is just as important as the positive space. The entire table is visible, as are the floor and the walls around it. Hockney accentuated the plain blue wall in the background by adding subtle texture. The objects on the table are deliberately arranged with space between them. The long yellow-green stems of the flowers draw the viewer’s eye to the upper edge of the canvas, then plunge downward. This movement and the colorful flower petals against the cool blue wall emphasize the space around them.

Roberto Bernardi (b. 1974), Candy Rainbow, 2010. Oil on canvas, 87x125 cm. Bernarducci Meisel Gallery, New York. © Roberto Bernardi.

How does the dark background emphasize the objects in the foreground?

5. CROPPING SUGGESTS MORE SPACE

Can you believe this is a painting? Italian artist Roberto Bernardi completed Candy Rainbow with photorealistic precision. This means the painting is so detailed that it appears to be a photo. Bernardi cropped the right edge of the image, cutting off the jar of lollipops. This shows that the still life continues beyond the edge of the picture plane, or area shown. The artist carefully arranged the candy and jars to move the viewer’s eye through the space. Where do the diagonal lines lead your eyes?

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