The Vitruvian Man is a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci around 1490. It is accompanied by notes based on the work of the architect Vitruvius. The drawing, which is in pen and ink on paper, depicts a man in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and inscribed in a circle and square. The drawing and text are sometimes called the Canon of Proportions or, less often, Proportions of Man.
This image provides the perfect example of Leonardo's keen interest in proportion. In addition, this picture represents a cornerstone of Leonardo's attempts to relate man to nature.
This famous drawing shows the concept of equal proportions which help to identify the fact that human beings are perfect. Da Vinci managed to convey the thought that Man and Nature are related and this is a good example of that. This not only connects Man to Nature, but art to science and architecture. The perfect proportions help to build temples and all sort of buildings in his time. This also shows the spiritual versus the material world as the circle represents the spiritual and square the natural.
I love this picture, although simple, it says so much. You see this picture in various movies and books, especially in relation to health and science. It has a basic depiction of proportion in man, yet when you mentioned that the circle and square represent spiritual and natural, it goes to show what Da Vinci may have had beliefs in. Great picture choice!
ReplyDeleteInteresting that Da Vinci thought to depict a man in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and inscribed in a circle and square.
ReplyDeletethe illusion that this picture creates is very freaky! lol you can find like 4 different ways of looking at it.
ReplyDeletei think is a very good way of symbolizing how we have so many contradictions as human beings. We an be perfectly squared and simultaneously be round, only something that we as human beings can achieve.
nice selection!!
;)