I need some assistence on a writing assignment. I am to write a three page paper about how another culture uses perspective (other than traditional Renaissance linear perspective) in their art. I’ve chosen to write about Chinese Art (old art, not modern art) but cannot find any information on how they use perspective or even what kind of perspective they use in their art.
The assignment states, “Research an art form from either a culture or an art movement that portrays three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface in ways different from linear perspective.” If anyone can help me, I’d appreciate it.
As a new member you are probably unaware of this, but requests for help with homework are usually frowned upon here. I would suggest that before you try looking at some Chinese artwork for yourself and seeing how they used perspective.
If you really cannot find anything, you might consider switching topics. I know that much has been written on the subject as it applies to Ancient Egyptian art.
I will give you a clue. But an evil one that will make your assignment more difficult. Read if you dare:
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If Western painters understand 3D perspective perfectly, why do straight lines curve in photographs?
I don’t think anyone minds giving pointers to students seeking homework help re information resources which I think is kinda sorta what the OP is asking for, niot that
I have looked at Chinese art, but would like sources so that I may name the types of perspective used and accurately report on their origins as opposed to making assumptions and ignoring facts. I need to (as well as prefer to) cite sources, so a website or book that I could be referred to would be a wonderful.
Thank you astro for your help and reference. This will prove to be useful.
Hmm. From an art historical point of view think about other ways of representing space than “perspective.” Think about overlapping, how things higher on a picture plane are understood as farther away, atmospheric perspective (things get hazier or less distinct and colors become more 'cool" with distance), or oblique projection (which I think might be your best bet). Some work has been done with similar conventions in japanese art.
I did a hellish tour of duty at the Freer and Sackler Galleries of Art in Washington, D.C, but man did I see some great art while I was slaving away there. Many Chinese paintings are excruciatingly accurate. At one point we had a comparison of watercolors from between 1000 and 1500 A.D. which were matched to modern photographs. In many cases, the perspectives were nearly identical. Note that Chinese landscapes anticipate the “invention” of Renaissance-era linear perspective by at least four hundred years, if not a thousand.
What threw me off at first was the artists’ selection of scenery to depict. They often went after the truly breathtaking, improbable scenes. I imagine Chinese painters were quite the adventurers, because a great feature of many paintings appears to be the nearly inaccessable vantage points from which the paintings are created.
