A seated solider By Hippolyte Bellange
Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
When creating this drawing, the artist recognized the basic shapes in this figure in order to
a confuse the eyes, making it difficult to draw
b record the various parts of the body accurately
c create a change in value
d ignore porportion and record the shape
b record the various parts of the body accurately
When creating a drawing, an artist often recognizes the basic shapes present in the subject in order to achieve various goals. In the case of the seated soldier drawing by Hippolyte Bellange, the artist most likely recognized the basic shapes in the figure for the purpose of accurately recording the various parts of the body.
The correct answer to the question is: b) record the various parts of the body accurately.
By breaking down the complex form of the seated soldier into basic shapes, such as circles, rectangles, and triangles, the artist can establish the correct proportions and positions of different body parts. This approach helps ensure that the drawing remains anatomically correct, enabling the artist to accurately depict the figure's arms, legs, torso, and head.
Identifying the basic shapes also helps the artist in capturing the overall structure and form of the figure. This process aids in avoiding common errors, such as misalignment of body parts or incorrect proportions.
It is important to note that recognizing basic shapes is just one of the many techniques and skills artists use to create their drawings. Artists also consider factors like perspective, foreshortening, shading, and composition to bring their artwork to life.