Mathematics + Art

When I started learning mathematics in primary school, I thought it was only a scientific subject about formulas and logic. In recent years, I realized math is also about patterns, symmetry and shape. After I finished the lectures and readings of this week, I found out that math is not only a tool to express art, but is also a form of art itself.

As professor Vesna mentioned in the lecture, a lot of artists created their works based on mathematics theories such as Leon Alberti and Leonardo da Vince. Alberti explored study of polymath to derive the golden ratio. His typical masterpiece  “Palazzo Rucellai” references a perfect mix of art and math. 

Leonardo was both a scientist and artist. He was one of the first explorers during Renaissance to research mathematics and applying it in his paintings. He used his knowledge of linear perspective and golden section in most of his paintings. I believe Leonardo successfully integrated art and math as both an artist and a mathematician. His art pieces were influenced by his mathematical research, and his math research was facilitated by his artistic expressions.

There is a movie I watched called GIRL WITH  A PERAL EARING last year inspired me a lot. The movie is a romantic story about Johannes Vermeer, a Dutch painter in 17^th century, and the girl in Johannes’s most famous painting GIRL WITH A PERAL EARING. I was not that into the romance but very impressed by the oil painting. The girl in the painting is extremely lively because we can see emotion in her eyes. I could feel her emotion and was really touched. 


















Then, I did a lot of research regarding the painter Vermeer. He developed rules for his own painting technique. He gave this image a sense of life through portraying the observation of the light in illuminating the objects in the room. He also used rules of linear perspective to make his painting look three-dimensional.

Mathematics is a critical part of both science and art because it acts as a common language in connecting them. To conclude, math and art intermingle and even inspires each other.

Bibliography 
Mathmatics. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. <(n.d.). Mathmatics. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://syosseths.com/z/math.html >.

Jarvis, Daniel , and Irene Naested. Exploring the Math and Art Connection. eBook. <http://books.google.com/books?id=NWzsz8vioZwC&pg=PA20&lpg=PA20&dq=math+influence+art&source=bl&ots=xfXQzP539r&sig=zkQNo9MRxJ65-37Lsx0OylXhQiE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CGlaUsH1D6iQiQL87IGwAQ&ved=0CDEQ6AEwATge#v=onepage&q=math%20influence%20

Vesna, Victoria, prod. Lecture. Film. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg>.

Palazzo Rucellai. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. <http://www.architetturando.net/jpg-arte_repertorio-online/indice%20dei%20luoghi/firenze/palazzi/rucellai/slides/11%20Disegno%20prospettico%20facciata.html>.

Leonardo da Vinci. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. <http://beginningdrawing.wordpress.com/tag/leonardo-da-vinci/>.

Movie. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. <http://rebecca-books.blogspot.com/2011/09/film-review-girl-with-pearl-earring.html>.

Girl with a pearl earring painting. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Girlwithapearlearringpainting.jpg>.

Vermeers. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. <http://brightbytes.com/cosite/vermeers.html>.
"Vermeer's Painting Technique." n. page. Print. <http://www.essentialvermeer.com/technique/technique_overview.html>.

Math Craft. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. <http://mathcraft.wonderhowto.com/inspiration/math-craft-monday-community-submissions-plus-tiling-with-coins-0130925/>.