The Power of Line [Hardcover]

There are no lines in nature—they are always the creation of humans, manifestations of human action, perception, and design. Lines can divide or connect, may be static or full of movement, and represent and create forms in space and time. And in many cultures, lines take center stage in science, art, writing, drawing, and construction. Employing a vast array of academic perspectives, this fascinating collection delves into the phenomenon of the line, as well as the power it holds for us.
             
From the history of art and science to philosophy, the essays inThe Power of Lineelucidate the semantic and conceptual depth of the line in European, Asian, and Islamic cultures. As they trace the continuity and transformation of the line over the course of centuries, the authors not only reveal it to be a constitutive element in architecture, art, and writing, but also uncover its importance as a medium of expression in both choreography and the scientific and technological fields. With copious full-color images,The Power of Lineis a captivating exploration of the line as an essential artistic and cultural means of expression.

Gerhard Wolfis an art historian, director of the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florence, and honorary professor at Humboldt University in Berlin.Marzia Faiettiis the director of the Uffizi Department of Prints and Drawings, also in Florence.

The Power of Line: Preface
Marzia Faietti and Gerhard Wolf

Graphism and Flatness: The Line as Mediator between Time and Space, institution and Concept
Sybille Krämer

Nature and Line
The Line and Its Double Nature in Early Modern Graphic Arts
Robert Felfe

Ruskin and the Reality of the Line
Jan von Brevern

Theories, Learning, and Didactic Experiences
Discipline as Emotion: Drawing Courses andlSz