The Golden Ratio is such a fascinating topic that every artist should know the basics about it.
Golden Ratio, also known as the Divine Proportion, Golden Section, Golden Mean, or Phi in Greek. It is an irrational number that approximately equals 1.618. The connection between math and art in this context is truly amazing—just look at the numerous Golden Ratio designs in nature.
The golden ratio played an important role in art and design history from way back.
The Greeks used Golden Ratios to build many of their temples and sculptures to reflect the harmony of the universe.
The Italian mathematician Luca Pacioli, often called the father of accounting and a true Renaissance man, once said, “Without mathematics, there is no art.” In his book “Divine Proportion,” illustrated by Da Vinci, Pacioli explores the Golden Ratio. The famous ideal man graph, known as the Vitruvian Man, comes from this collaboration.
Let’s look at some paintings with Golden Ratios from famous artists:
In Michelangelo’s painting of “The Creation of Adam” on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, look at the section of the painting bounded by God and Adam. The finger of God touches the finger of Adam precisely at the Golden Ratio point of the width and height of the area that contains them both.
Alternatively, you can use the horizontal borders of the width of the painting and get the same result.
The French impressionist painter Georges Pierre Seurat is said to have “attacked every canvas by the Golden Section.” In the examples below, the horizons fall exactly at the Golden Section of the height of the paintings.
Seurat used the golden ratio to create his signature serene and peaceful emotional power in his paintings.
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In the next post, we will dive into the shape of the canvas. Stay tuned to discover how artists use different canvas shapes to enhance the aesthetics in their work.
