Windows in Art, and Planes in Space
I love painting and drawing for its metaphysical aspects. I like taking a flat piece of paper or canvas and making it appear to have space where there was none before. A commonly used vehicle that artists have used to define space throughout history is the representation of the window. Windows in art convey the sense of two spaces: the space on this side of the window, and the space on other side of the window. Windows in art can be everything from literal representations of an architectural element, or holes that are cut into a canvas. For me, the most satisfying exploration of the concept of windows is using abstract planes or veils in space.
In this quickie sketch, the two telephone poles are vertical lines that create a defined plane in space, or a “window” through which we see a space beyond. It can be argued that all representational painting is also abstract, because the appearance of realism in a picture is all an illusion. It can also be argued that even the perimeter of a painting is a metaphor for the opening of a window, like a proscenium opening of a theatre stage. Next time you look at art, look for the “windows”