picture plane
Artwork's flat boundary
The picture plane is an imaginary flat surface that represents the boundary between the viewer and the depicted scene in a two-dimensional artwork.
In perspective drawing and painting, it functions as the transparent window through which one views the subject, with all elements of the composition projected onto this surface.
Artists use the concept to organize spatial relationships: objects can appear to recede behind the picture plane or, in some modern works, to break forward from it.
The figure's outstretched hand seems to pierce the picture plane.
Where parallels appear to meet
- horizon lineApparent earth-sky junction
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
- foreshorteningDepicting depth through size
- linear perspectiveDepth through converging lines
aerial perspective · orthogonal · projection · illusion · viewpoint · angle · distortion · geometry
Nearest visual plane
- backgroundOne's formative experiences
- depthDistance below surface
- surfaceOutermost boundary layer
- flatnessAbsence of slope
two-dimensional · three-dimensional · recession · projection · shallow · deep · compressed · layered
Absence of slope
- abstractionDistilling to essential qualities
- CubismFragmented geometric abstraction
- CézanneFrench Post-Impressionist painter
- collageAssembled mixed-media artwork
surface tension · materiality · opacity · planarity · Manet · Picasso · Braque · self-referential
Ordered configuration or agreement
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- focal pointCenter of interest
- visual hierarchyOrder of attention in design
- placementPutting somewhere specific
cropping · framing · negative space · positive space · figure-ground · asymmetry · symmetry · visual weight
vanishing point
Where parallels appear to meet
- horizon lineApparent earth-sky junction
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
- foreshorteningDepicting depth through size
linear perspective · aerial perspective · orthogonal · projection · illusion · viewpoint · angle · distortion · geometry · Renaissance
foreground
Nearest visual plane
- backgroundOne's formative experiences
- depthDistance below surface
- surfaceOutermost boundary layer
flatness · two-dimensional · three-dimensional · recession · projection · shallow · deep · compressed · layered · overlapping
flatness
Absence of slope
- abstractionDistilling to essential qualities
- CubismFragmented geometric abstraction
- CézanneFrench Post-Impressionist painter
collage · surface tension · materiality · opacity · planarity · Manet · Picasso · Braque · self-referential
arrangement
Ordered configuration or agreement
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- focal pointCenter of interest
- visual hierarchyOrder of attention in design
placement · cropping · framing · negative space · positive space · figure-ground · asymmetry · symmetry · visual weight · tension
canvas
Heavy woven cloth
gesso · stretcher · panel · substrate · texture · tooth · preparation · priming · linen · cotton
picture planedeep space
Remote regions beyond planets
three-dimensional space · vanishing point · background · z-axis · depth of field
picture, plane, pictures, pictured, picturing, picturesque, planes, planed, planing