The golden ratio – also called divine proportion – is a true magic formula that has been seducing the eyes for centuries. For painters, architects, sculptors or poets, the golden ratio in art exerts a power of fascination. Its rules are multiple and appear in several formulas, like the Fibonacci sequence, the spiral and the golden rectangle. But how exactly is the golden ratio expressed in art? Artsper invites you to discover it now!
The golden ratio in art: the promise of harmony
Aesthetics, harmonious proportions and beauty have often been confused throughout the history of art. The golden ratio, also defined by the letter φ (phi), is the most telling example. This mathematical formula is considered by some as a universal rule of beauty. With a proportion equal to x²=x+1, the golden ratio in art creates a balanced relationship that the mind’s eye loves. More precisely, it is about obtaining a precise ratio between the different parts of a work, an image, or an object. The value of this number is 1.61803398874989482045.
Does all this seems a bit obscure? There is a simple technique to obtain a golden rectangle! Draw a line and multiply the size of its side by 1.618. This will give you the correct width (first stroke) and the associated length (result of the multiplication). The golden rectangle is a remarkable geometric figure, and it can be reproduced ad infinitum. Thus, any artistic work can present a mise en abyme of golden rectangles. There is also another trick to obtaining the golden ratio. If you add the two shortest lines of a work, they must be the same size as the third line. This third line will then show the proportions of the golden ratio.
The golden ratio and the human eye: a long-standing love affair
We can hardly know for sure when the knowledge of the golden ratio appeared. Several pyramids, and in particular that of Cheops, would have been built partially by using a proportion calculated by the golden ratio. However, we have no written confirmation dating from this period. Just like the Parthenon, in which we find the golden ratio appearing many times. The same goes for the classical Greek sculptures of antiquity, whose human proportions show a repetition of the golden ratio. However, it is known that the golden ratio was officially discovered by Euclid around 300 BC. In the 1200s, Leonardo Fibonacci discovered the Fibonacci sequence, while Campanus demonstrated the irrationality of the Euclid’s golden ratio.
Golden ratio in art: some famous examples
Leonardo da Vinci, the king of the golden ratio in art
Leonardo da Vinci is certainly the artist who most flaunted his love of the golden ratio. Scientist, inventor, sculptor, musician, philosopher and painter, Leonardo da Vinci introduced mathematics into art. It was by creating the Vitruvian Man that he materialized his fascination for the golden ratio in art. This work is an ode to the proportions of the human body, which da Vinci found to be perfect. Later, he painted the Mona Lisa, one of the most famous paintings in the world. Not surprisingly, the golden ratio is found in the face of the madonna.
Dalí
In 1955, Dalí painted The Sacrament of the Last Supper. This great work contains the golden ratio in two ways. The proportions of the painting correspond directly to the golden ratio. It also features a huge dodecahedron harmoniously dominating the background of the scene.
Le Corbusier
Famous brutalist architect, Le Corbusier, made the golden ratio a basic rule for his constructions. This was notably the case for his well-known housing complex, Cité radieuse, in Marseille, France. More than that, Le Corbusier used the golden ratio to develop the Modulor, a scale of proportions. This system was used to build more harmonious dwellings and to do so more quickly.
The golden ratio: a natural balance?
Since the beginning of time, many artists have used the golden ratio to create harmonious works as it has been observed in nature. It can be found, for example, in pine cones, pear trees or Romanesco cabbage. And isn’t it ultimately the purpose of art, to revalue, if not to glorify, the natural beauty and balance of things?
FAQs
The golden ratio is a structural device based on the patterns of nature, that has been used by artists and designers for centuries. The golden ratio, also known as the divine proportion, is a mathematical ratio of 1:1.618, or Phi, with a decimal that stretches to infinity, closely linked to the Fibonacci sequence.
How to find the golden ratio in art? ›
The golden ratio is found when a line is divided into two parts such that the whole length of the line divided by the long part of the line is also equal to the long part of the line divided by the short part of the line.
What famous artwork has the golden ratio in it? ›
Golden ratio in art: some famous examples
It was by creating the Vitruvian Man that he materialized his fascination for the golden ratio in art. This work is an ode to the proportions of the human body, which da Vinci found to be perfect. Later, he painted the Mona Lisa, one of the most famous paintings in the world.
Which artists seem to have used the golden ratio in their works of art? ›
Most Memorable Golden Ratio Examples in Modern Art
- Georges Seurat - Bathers at Asnières - Mathematics and Art. ...
- Piet Mondrian – Compositions in Red, Blue, and Yellow. ...
- Kazimir Malevich – Suprematist Composition. ...
- Salvador Dali – The Sacrament of the Last Supper. ...
- Le Corbusier – Architecture and the Golden Ratio.
The incorporation of the golden ratio in "The Mona Lisa" is believed to have contributed to its enduring appeal and artistic mastery.
Did Picasso use the golden ratio? ›
Pablo Picasso & the Golden Ratio & Fibonacci Numbers: It has been said that the postmodern movement neglected classcial rules of composition, but as seen here, Picasso embraced the golden number PHI and the golden rectangle, PHI grid, and golden harmonies.
What is the golden ratio for beginners? ›
The Golden Ratio is a number that's (kind of) equal to 1.618, just like pi is approximately equal to 3.14, but not exactly. You take a line and divide it into two parts – a long part (a) and a short part (b). The entire length (a + b) divided by (a) is equal to (a) divided by (b). And both of those numbers equal 1.618.
How do you know if a picture has a golden ratio? ›
The Phi Grid
It is similar to the Rule of Thirds but with a tiny difference. Both divide the frame horizontally and vertically into thirds, but when the Rule of Thirds divides the frame into equal sections, the Phi Grid follows the 1:1.618 ratio. This pushes the grid lines closer to the center.
What is the basic formula for the golden ratio? ›
Golden ratio is a special number and is approximately equal to 1.618. Golden ratio is represented using the symbol “ϕ”. Golden ratio formula is ϕ = 1 + (1/ϕ).
What famous logo has a golden ratio? ›
The underlying backbone of the Pepsi logo follows the golden ratio. This simple and effective logo is created by intersecting circles with a set proportion to each other. Golden Ratio creates a balance that is pleasing to the eye. It's represented by the Greek letter Phi (Φ), and it is expressed as 1:1.618033987.
Details: The Golden Ratio In Art
The golden ratio is a method that you can use to divide lines and rectangles in an aesthetically pleasing way. Architects use a very accurate golden ratio number, 0.62, when designing buildings. As an easier rule of thumb for your art, you can use a ratio of 3 to 5.
Who invented the golden ratio? ›
The first known calculation of the golden ratio as a decimal was given in a letter written in 1597 by Michael Mästlin, at the University of Tübingen, to his former student Kepler. He gives "about 0. 6180340" for the length of the longer segment of a line of length 1 divided in the golden ratio.
What is another name for the golden ratio in art? ›
The other is to introduce the occurrences of the golden ratio in art and architecture. There are many different names for the golden ratio; The Golden Mean, Phi, the Divine Section, The Golden Cut, The Golden Proportion, The Divine Proportion, and tau(t).
What is the golden ratio of da Vinci? ›
Leonardo da Vinci, Annunciation, c. 1472. The golden ratio is an irrational number that approximately equals 1.618. For artistically minded people, the ratio—or better yet, the divine proportion—might be easier to understand visually.
How did da Vinci use math in his art? ›
Da Vinci used the mathematical principles of linear perspective – parallel lines, the horizon line, and a vanishing point – to create the illusion of depth on a flat surface. In The Annunciation, for example, he uses perspective to emphasise the corner of a building, a walled garden and a path.
How does the golden ratio exist? ›
The golden ratio, also known as the golden number, golden proportion, or the divine proportion, is a ratio between two numbers that equals approximately 1.618. Usually written as the Greek letter phi, it is strongly associated with the Fibonacci sequence, a series of numbers wherein each number is added to the last.
Where can the golden ratio be found in the real world? ›
Golden Ratio is one of the most common mathematical ratios in nature. We see this ratio everywhere from majestic landscapes like the Pyramids of Giza and the Mona Lisa to modern-day logos such as Twitter and Pepsi. Golden ratios are unique because of their golden proportion.
How is the Fibonacci sequence used in art? ›
Fibonacci Spirals
The result is a gracefully expanding spiral that can be observed in nautilus shells, hurricanes, and even galaxies. In classical art, this spiral's proportions are often used to guide the placement of elements within a composition, leading the viewer's gaze along an aesthetically pleasing path.
Where does the golden ratio exist in architecture and art? ›
The [assumed] earliest application of the Golden Ratio in architecture is believed to be the Great Pyramid of Giza. Although there is no documented writing to confirm its intended implementation, there is a golden ratio within the triangular form with a 0.025% margin of accuracy.
