Deconstructing the Human Body: Artistic Human Anatomy

Author: Sun Tao / Ye Nan (editors)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: To develop the brain, humans freed their hands; to free the hands, they had to walk upright. Walking upright overcomes gravity in a way that quadrupeds do not. Therefore, the human body has formed many Z-shaped and S-shaped rhythms, giving rise to the arch shape of the foot and the lever-like structure of the limbs, especially the upper limbs, all of which are reflected in the external rhythm. As a result, there are rhythmic complementary patterns of gravity when the human body moves, as well as rhythmic variations between muscle and bone—softness and hardness. Only by observing and portraying the human body can an artist grasp its charm and master the laws of change. The unique rhythm of the human body is what artists seek and express as human beauty.