foreshortening
Perspective-based visual compression
Foreshortening is a technique in visual art where objects or figures appear compressed along the line of sight, creating the illusion of depth on a flat surface.
A pointing arm aimed at the viewer looks shorter than it actually is.
The technique appears wherever artists represent three-dimensional space: The foreshortening of the reclining figure was masterfully executed.
Outside art, foreshortening can describe any compression or abbreviation: a foreshortening of the timeline.
Attitude or spatial rendering
- proportionComparative relation of parts
- distortionTwisting from original state
- anatomyStudy of organism structure
- figureOutline or numeral
drawing · painting · sketch · rendering · vanishing point · convergence · viewpoint · angle
Distance below surface
- distanceSpace between two points
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- spatialRelating to physical extent
- three-dimensionalHaving volume and depth
optical · visual perception · depth perception · field of view · sightline · horizon line · aerial perspective · linear perspective
Light-focusing curved glass
- telephotoMagnifying camera lens
- focal lengthLens-to-convergence-point distance
- zoomRapid movement or magnification
- compressionForcing into smaller space
flattening · stacking · background · foreground · depth of field · long lens · perspective distortion · layering
perspective
Attitude or spatial rendering
- proportionComparative relation of parts
- distortionTwisting from original state
- anatomyStudy of organism structure
figure · drawing · painting · sketch · rendering · vanishing point · convergence · viewpoint · angle · contour
depth
Distance below surface
- distanceSpace between two points
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- spatialRelating to physical extent
three-dimensional · optical · visual perception · depth perception · field of view · sightline · horizon line · aerial perspective · linear perspective · recession
lens
Light-focusing curved glass
- telephotoMagnifying camera lens
- focal lengthLens-to-convergence-point distance
- zoomRapid movement or magnification
compression · flattening · stacking · background · foreground · depth of field · long lens · perspective distortion · layering · planes
- art techniquespainting, drawing, sketching, shading, blending
- art elementsline, shape, color, value, space
- art termspainting, sculpture, drawing, portrait, landscape
- Renaissance artMichelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, Titian
- depth perceptiondepth perception, depth, stereopsis, binocular disparity, parallax
- drawing lessonsperspective drawing, figure drawing, beginner exercises, line drawing, pencil shading
foreshorteningelongation
Increase in length
extension · lengthening · stretching · distension · flattening
foreshorteningprolongation
Act of extending duration
extension · expansion · elongation · elaboration · lengthening
short, shorten, shortly, shortness, shortened, shortening, shortens, foreshorten, shorteners