Dominance emphasis refers to the visual weight or importance given to certain elements in a work of art. It is one of the seven principles of art and design, along with balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity. The principle of dominance emphasis creates a visual hierarchy in an artwork by making certain elements stand out more than others.
What does dominance emphasis mean?
Dominance emphasis means giving visual priority or emphasis to the most important parts of a composition. The dominant element is the area that first grabs the viewer’s attention when looking at a work of art. This is often achieved by making an element larger, bolder, brighter, more detailed, or placed in a prominent position compared to other elements.
Having a clear point of emphasis helps provide focus and directs the viewer’s eye through the artwork. It establishes visual order and creates variety by contrasting the dominant element with secondary or supporting elements. Without any dominance emphasis, a composition can feel chaotic or confusing with no clear focal point.
How is dominance emphasis created in art?
There are several ways artists create dominance emphasis in their work:
- Size – Making an element larger naturally draws the eye towards it.
- Contrast – Sharp contrasts in color, value, texture create emphasis.
- Isolation – Surrounding an element with empty space separates it.
- Focus – Having an element sharply rendered while the rest is soft/blurry.
- Color – Vibrant hues attract more attention than muted colors.
- Placement – Items near the center or at the focal point tend to dominate.
- Lighting – Illuminated elements stand out against darker areas.
Skillful artists think about dominance emphasis early when planning their composition. They purposefully use one or more of these tactics to control the viewer’s gaze and highlight the most important parts of their work.
Examples of dominance emphasis
Here are some examples of dominance emphasis from various artworks:
Size Dominance
In Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the subject’s face is the largest element, commanding the most visual attention:
Contrast Dominance
Diego Velázquez uses strong contrast between the illuminated figure and dark background to emphasize the water seller in this painting:
Isolation Dominance
The solid red circle stands out due to being surrounded by white space in this Piet Mondrian painting:
Focus Dominance
The sharp focus on the fruit in this painting by Paul Cézanne makes it the area of emphasis, compared to the soft background:
Color Dominance
Henri Matisse uses contrasting colors to draw attention to the woman’s face and clothing:
Types of dominance emphasis
There are several types of dominance emphasis that artists may use:
Focal Point Emphasis
This refers to emphasizing a single focal point or center of interest in a work. The viewer’s eye goes right to this element first. Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is a classic example of focal point emphasis on the woman’s face.
Progressive Emphasis
Rather than a single focal point, the emphasis gradually shifts across different elements that together tell a narrative. Progressive scenes in religious/historical paintings often use this approach.
Hierarchical Emphasis
This establishes a clear visual hierarchy for the elements. The most dominant elements are emphasized first, followed by elements with secondary emphasis, tertiary emphasis, etc. Landscape paintings often have foreground, midground and background areas of emphasis.
Simultaneous Emphasis
Multiple elements are emphasized at once, with equal visual weight. Abstract or cubist art may apply simultaneous emphasis without a clear hierarchy between elements.
Purpose and effects of dominance emphasis
Dominance emphasis serves several important purposes in artwork composition:
- Directs the viewer’s attention
- Establishes visual hierarchy
- Creates contrast and variety
- Adds visual interest
- Contributes to unity and balance
- Reinforces the theme or message
When used effectively, dominance emphasis can make a composition feel intentional,guide the viewer through it, highlight what’s most important and create a visually captivating work of art.
However, improper use of emphasis can make parts feel randomly emphasized or make a work feel chaotic or distracting. Artists must carefully consider dominance emphasis to bring out the best in their artwork.
Dominance emphasis across art forms
Though most commonly discussed in visual arts like painting and drawing, dominance emphasis also applies to other art forms:
Photography
Photographers use compositional techniques to control dominance emphasis through depth of field, framing, lighting, color contrasts, etc. Dominant subjects are made to stand out against backgrounds.
Graphic design
Bold graphics, contrasting scale/color, strategic space around elements create emphasis in design. Dominant headlines, logos and visuals establish hierarchy.
Sculpture
Scale, material, and placement make certain elements more dominant in 3D works. High relief carvings emphasize raised elements over sunken ones.
Architecture
Lines, shapes, textures, lighting, and articulations create dominance emphasis on certain architectural features over others.
Music
Emphasis on particular instruments, rhythms, melodies make them dominate the listener’s ear compared to accompanying parts.
Literature
Certain words, phrases, characters, or themes take on dominance through repetition, placement and contrasts with less emphasized elements.
Dance
Dominant dancers or groups command the most attention through featured choreography, costumes, lighting, and stage position.
Tips for using dominance emphasis
Here are some useful tips for applying dominance emphasis effectively in your artwork:
- Identify your focal point or most important element and accentuate it.
- Establish a clear visual hierarchy of primary, secondary, tertiary elements.
- Use contrasting scale, color, detail, position to differentiate emphasis.
- Surround focal areas with negative space to isolate them.
- Keep backgrounds and lesser elements subtle and understated.
- Frame or position focal elements to command the most attention.
- Align dominance emphasis with your main theme or message.
However, don’t overdo it. Allow some balance between dominant and subordinate elements so the composition feels cohesive, not chaotic.
Conclusion
Dominance emphasis is an important principle of visual art that establishes focal points, directs the viewer’s gaze, and creates contrast and variety in a composition. Artists arrange elements purposefully to create emphasis using tactics like contrasting scale, color, detail, space, and placement. When used thoughtfully, dominance emphasis contributes to the overall harmony and visual impact of an artwork. It is a valuable tool for artists across many different mediums to control and enhance how viewers engage with their work.
