Grids in Art

If we look at the most rudimentary forms of organization we can see resemblances to grids. Whether its the streets of Rome or the motherboard in a computer it is easiest for the human mind to line things up in a 2 axis linear fashion. We often see grids in art because it draws the human eye better than any other shape.

We find grids in a very tightly organized fashion in art such as the picture above. The grid gives the artist an ordered sequence in which to form their drawing or painting. In fact in beginning design classes all over the country students are being taught how to grid a smaller photo onto a larger canvas in order to keep proportionality. There are also grids in a much more abstract and disorganized fashion. The photo below illustrates such.

While this photo does not have the same direct order to it as the above painting we can still organize a grid. The form of the grid gives the viewer a pattern for their eyes to follow. In the second photo the eyes are initially drawn to the large white bar in the center. From there the viewer moves left and right in a linear manner following the many boxes created.