Illusion of Motion

1. Illusion of Motion

2. What is the illusion of motion?

3. Motion is an important consideration to art. Change and movement are basic characteristics of existence. Every aspect of life is in motion.

4. Harold Edgerton, Making Applesauce at MIT

5. In art, a sense of motion is created by actual or implied change of position- Implied motion in drawings, painting, photography or sculpture is linked with the repetition of shapes, the action of lines or other rhythmic elements, such as Op Art which is a type of painting that gives the optical illusion of movement.

6. Implied Motion

7. Op Art

8. Anticipated Motion

9. Much of the implication of movement present in art is caused by our memory and past experience. We recognize temporary, unstable body positions and realize that change is imminent. Remember diagonal lines imply movement or action. In a process called kinesthetic empathy we tend to recreate unconsciously in our own bodies the action we observe. We can actually “feel” our muscles tense based on things we observe. This involuntary reaction also applies to static images in art and thus enhances a sense of motion.

10. Kinesthetic Empathy

11. Ways to Suggest Motion

12. Repeated Figure

13. One of the oldest devises artists have employed to represent motion in art is the repetition of the figure. Often the repeated figure reappears in one unified composition rather than in a sequence of smaller compositions. This devise was used widely in Oriental/Asian cultures and was adopted by Western art. Usually the repeated character wears a distinctive costume or identifiable color so their repetition is obvious.

14. Repeated Figure

15. Cropped Figure Allen Iverson

16. Repeated and Cropped Figure Calvin and Hobbes

17. Blurred Outlines

18. When objects move through our field of vision quickly, we do not get a clear mental picture of them. Details and edges of the form are lost in the rapidity of movement. Blurred edges serve as an effective device to suggest flowing or rapid movement.

19. Blurred Outlines Gerhard Richter/George S. Boznos

20. Multiple Image

21. Multiple image is another device used to suggest motion. When we see one figure in an overlapping sequence of poses, the slight change in each successive position suggests movement taking place.

22. Multiple Image Thomas Eakins

23. Multiple Image Marcel Duchamp

24. How is motion suggested in this image?