What is the principle that makes one part of a work dominant over the other parts?

Emphasis is a principle of art which occurs any time an element of a piece is given dominance by the artist. In other words, the artist makes part of the work stand out in order to draw the viewer's eye there first.

Why Is Emphasis Important?

Emphasis is used in art to attract the viewer's attention to a particular area or object. This is typically the focal point or main subject of the artwork. For instance, in a portrait painting, the artist usually wants you to see the person's face first. They will use techniques such as color, contrast, and placement to make sure that this area is where your eye is attracted to first.

Any piece of art may have more than one area of emphasis. However, one typically dominates over all others. If two or more are given equal importance, your eye does not know how to interpret it. This confusion may lead you to not enjoy an otherwise good piece of work.

Subordination is used to describe the secondary or accent elements of the artwork. While artists emphasize the focal point, they can also de-emphasize the other elements to ensure the main subject stands out. An artist may, for instance, use red on the subject while leaving the rest of the painting in very muted browns. The viewer's eye is automatically drawn to this pop of color.

One might argue that all worthy works of art employ emphasis. If a piece lacks this principle, it may seem monotonous and boring to the eye. However, some artists play with the lack of emphasis on purpose and use it to create a visually impactful piece.

Andy Warhol's "Campbell's Soup Cans" (1961) are a perfect example of the lack of emphasis. When the series of canvases are hung on the wall, the entire assembly lacks any real subject. Yet, the magnitude of the collection's repetition leaves an impression nonetheless.

How Artists Add Emphasis

Frequently, an emphasis is achieved by means of contrast. Contrast can be achieved in a variety of ways and artists often employ more than one technique in a single piece.

A contrast in color, value, and texture can certainly draw you to a particular area. Likewise, when one object is significantly larger or in the foreground, it becomes the focal point because the perspective or depth draw us in. 

Many artists will also strategically place their subject in the composition in areas that are known to attract attention. That may be directly in the center, but more often than not it is off to one side or another. It might also be isolated from other elements through placement, tone, or depth.

Yet another way to add emphasis is to use repetition. If you have a series of similar elements then interrupt that pattern in some way, that naturally gets noticed.

Looking for Emphasis

As you study art, remain mindful of emphasis. Look at how each piece of art naturally directs your eye around the piece. What techniques did the artist use to achieve this? What did they want you to see at first glance? 

Sometimes the emphasis is very subtle and at other times it is anything but. These are the little surprises that artists leave us and discovering them is what makes creative works so interesting.

Sources and Further Reading

• Ackerman, Gerald M. "Lomazzo's Treatise on Painting." The Art Bulletin 49.4 (1967): 317–26. Print.
• Galenson, David W. "Painting Outside the Lines: Patterns of Creativity in Modern Art." Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2001.
• Mayer, Ralph. "The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques." 3rd ed. New York: Viking Press, 1991.

• Elements of Design Vocabulary

  What makes Art, Art (Line, shape, form, color, value, space, texture, time)

  Line—a mark drawn with a pointed, moving tool. A line is also considered the path of a dot through space and is used by an artist to control the viewer’s eye movement. There are five kinds of lines:  Vertical, horizontal, diagonal, curved, and zigzag.

  Shape—A two-dimensional area that is defined in some way. A shape has only height and width. There are two kinds of shapes; geometric, and free-form.

  Form—objects having three dimensions. Like a shape, a form has height and width, but also has depth. Forms are also either geometric or free-form.

  Color—an element of art that is derived from reflected light. The sensation of color is aroused in the brain by response of the eyes to different wave lengths of light. Color has three properties: hue, value, and intensity.

  Value—art element that describes the darkness or lightless of an object.  Value depends on how much light an object reflects. Value is also one of the three properties of color.

  Space—element of design that refers to the emptiness or area between, around, above, below, or within objects. Shapes and forms are defined by space around or within them.

  Texture—the element of design that refers to how things feel, or look as if they might feel if touched. Texture is perceived by touch and sight.

  Time—the element of design that deals with the passage of time, how materials change over time, or an action that occurs over time. 

  Principles of Design

  Adj. (Pattern, Contrast, Unity, Rhythm, Movement, balance, emphasis, Proportion)

  Pattern—principle of design that uses the art elements in planned or random repetitions. Patterns often occur in nature and artists develop pattern through the use of similar repeated motifs.

  Contrast—principle of design that refers to differences in values, colors, textures, shapes and other elements. Contrast creates visual excitement and adds interest to work.

  Unity—the principle of design that provides a cohesive quality that makes a work of art appear whole or complete. Unity can be achieved through the use of the elements of design in repetition.

  Rhythm—the principle of design that indicates movement by the repetition of elements. Visual rhythm is rhythm you perceive through your eyes rather than your ears. Types of rhythm are random, regular, flowing, progressive, and alternating.

  Movement—principle of design that deals with creating the illusion of action or physical change in position to guide the viewer’s eye throughout the work of art.

  Balance—principle of design concerned with equalizing visual forces, or elements in a work of art. If a work has visual balance, the viewer feels the elements have been arranged in a satisfying way. The two types of balance are formal (symmetrical) and informal (asymmetrical).

  Emphasis—principle of design that makes one part of a work dominant over the other parts. The element first noticed is called dominant, the elements noticed later are called subordinate.

  Proportion—Principle of design that deals with design elements size relative to each other. Proportion can be affected by shape, color, value and texture. 

What principle of design is dominant?

What is the technique for creating a focal point?

What are the dominant art principles used?

When one part of an artwork is dominant?