# Is There an Art Term for This?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-art-term-for-this/713294>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 21, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-art-term-for-this/713294 "2015-02-21T22:24:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-art-term-for-this/713294/1 "2015-02-21T22:24:39Z")

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Is there an art term for a prominent figure in a busy painting of characters, or whatnot, that is intentionally drawn in such a manner to capture your attention? …akin to the main character in a story? Is there a term for this, or is “prominent figre” about as good as it gets? Maybe there’s a Latin term for this?

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**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-art-term-for-this/713294/2 "2015-02-21T22:26:30Z")

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I’d say “the focal point” might fit your description, but I don’t pretend to be an art expert.

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**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-art-term-for-this/713294/3 "2015-02-21T23:49:16Z")

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Interesting question. No exact terms jump to mind. “Focal point” or “subject” could both work, but not necessarily.

I could see a term like this being useful in discussing, say, a Bosch painting where there’s a lot of action throughout but generally a smaller handful of really attention-grabbing points.

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**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-art-term-for-this/713294/4 "2015-02-22T00:36:15Z")

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Focus or focal point of a composition, I should think.

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**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-art-term-for-this/713294/5 "2015-02-22T03:45:04Z")

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In photography and graphic design it’s very common to talk about the “center of interest.” I believe that term would serve in the situation described by the OP.

Here’s a link to the definition at “[creativeglossary.com](http://www.creativeglossary.com/art-mediums/center-of-interest.html)”.

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-art-term-for-this/713294/6 "2016-02-12T21:14:36Z")

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Good thoughts, all! (Sorry for late reply, but I am out here reading-up on your input!) Thanks!