Contour Line

A contour line in all its simplicity is the marking used by artists to define the shape of their subject without using shading. Essentially, they outline the subject, with emphasis on the mass and volume rather than on the details. A fundamental element of any drawing or painting, contour lines are often the first technique adopted when experimenting with art. 

However, it is far more than a basic technique used by children and beginners. As a contour can convey a three-dimensional perspective, length and width as well as thickness and depth are important, and not all contours exist along the outlines of a subject. By altering the type of contour, an artist can convey details aspects of its subjects relating to their shape and form. For example, a lighter line with less gradation suggests a greater distance between the subjects, whereas a darker portion of the contour may depict a subject with little or no light source, thus conveying whether the subject is lower or perhaps compressed. Furthermore, artists use contour lines to add accents or cast shadows.

Over the course of different art movements, the concept of contour lines has waxed and waned, been reinvented and then reverted back to tradition again. During the Renaissance, artists such as Michelangelo Buonarroti and Leonardo da Vinci used contour lines in a clearly defined and almost scientific manner in order to depict human forms in a highly naturalistic way. On the other hand, impressionist artists such as Edgar Degas experimented with the vicissitude of contour lines. They could be curved or angular, heavy or light, precise or ambiguous, and sometimes all of this at the same time.

Discover both modern and traditional pieces from various art periods with emphasis on the contour line technique in artworks on Artsper.

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Fine Art Drawings, Cascade, Allen Jones

Allen Jones

Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 11 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 4.3 inch

$9,147

Fine Art Drawings, Le Cinq, Nathan Chantob

Nathan Chantob

Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 28.5 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 11.2 x 0.4 inch

$1,829

Print, Kitchen Diva, Elvira Bach

Elvira Bach

Print - 49 x 34 x 0.5 cm Print - 19.3 x 13.4 x 0.2 inch

$2,111

Fine Art Drawings, The Source, Reinar Foreman

Reinar Foreman

Fine Art Drawings - 52.5 x 39 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20.7 x 15.4 inch

$976

Painting, Nous deux, David Jamin

David Jamin

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1 inch

$1,525

Painting, La route -1, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$305

Painting, Waves, Tigran Mamikonyan

Tigran Mamikonyan

Painting - 60 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$600

Painting, Crize, Keny

Keny

Painting - 97 x 68 x 3 cm Painting - 38.2 x 26.8 x 1.2 inch

$1,037

Painting, Urbain, David Jamin

David Jamin

Painting - 73 x 92 x 2.5 cm Painting - 28.7 x 36.2 x 1 inch

$3,110

Painting, Le Bouquet De Jambes, Yrak

Yrak

Painting - 130 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 51.2 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

$5,976

Painting, Les Photos, Yrak

Yrak

Painting - 100 x 130 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 51.2 x 1.2 inch

$5,976

Painting, Time Lapse, Maria Esmar

Maria Esmar

Painting - 80 x 128 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 50.4 x 1.6 inch

$2,195

Painting, Totem, Nicolas Denigot

Nicolas Denigot

Painting - 146 x 114 x 2.5 cm Painting - 57.5 x 44.9 x 1 inch

$4,269

Fine Art Drawings, Wilted peonies, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

$427

Painting, Sombras 2, Carme Pastrana

Carme Pastrana

Painting - 25 x 25 x 0.5 cm Painting - 9.8 x 9.8 x 0.2 inch

$915

Painting, Musing, Rene Rikkelman

Rene Rikkelman

Painting - 110 x 90 x 4 cm Painting - 43.3 x 35.4 x 1.6 inch

$3,598

Painting, Oh! Gang Bank!, JP Malot

JP Malot

Painting - 81 x 116 x 3 cm Painting - 31.9 x 45.7 x 1.2 inch

$13,416

Painting, Dream, Boris OA

Boris OA

Painting - 77 x 64 x 2 cm Painting - 30.3 x 25.2 x 0.8 inch

$2,805

Fine Art Drawings, Vision 9, Gina Vor

Gina Vor

Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$183

Painting, Fluidos, James Bonachea

James Bonachea

Painting - 160 x 119.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 63 x 47.2 x 0.1 inch

$4,600

Painting, Mediacions, Nuria Guinovart

Nuria Guinovart

Painting - 200 x 80 x 5 cm Painting - 78.7 x 31.5 x 2 inch

$8,537

Fine Art Drawings, Paysage sauvage, Niki Neuts

Niki Neuts

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 70 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$1,464

Painting, Wi-Fi, Vik Schroeder

Vik Schroeder

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$488

Painting, Encallat, Nuria Guinovart

Nuria Guinovart

Painting - 80 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

$5,732

Painting, Daydreamer, Rene Rikkelman

Rene Rikkelman

Painting - 120 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 47.2 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

$3,598

Print, Bucha, Kateryna Ocheredko

Kateryna Ocheredko

Print - 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch

$400

Photography, Portrait #2, D-A Woisard

D-A Woisard

Photography - 50 x 40 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 inch

$1,464

Fine Art Drawings, Fish puzzle, SP

SP

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$293

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