4 Examples of Math in Art

We at the Center of Math have been inspired in unforeseen ways by this beautiful weather. Our artistic sides are out and about! So, we've compiled this list of greatly varied pieces of art that are influenced by mathematics.

http://www.mcescher.com/gallery/mathematical/study-for-stars/

Study for Stars (Escher)- M. C. Escher was a Dutch artist born in 1898, and is most known for his drawings and woodcuts of mazes and seemingly-impossible objects. Escher’s work lives on today as one of the inspirations for the burgeoning field of graphic design. 

This woodcut from 1948 is titled Study for Stars. The mathematical influences are interestingly both simple and abstract. Throughout the piece there are recreations of common 3-dimensional shapes – cones, cubes, etc. Drawn more intricately are depictions of imaginary shapes that are real conceptually, but not otherwise. There’s the cube ‘shoved’ into a diamond in the top left, and a shape that appears to be a cube that is split in half and duplicated four times over. Judging from the title, this seems to be Escher’s take on the various shapes and stages of growth that stars can inhibit.

image: http://www.goldennumber.net/wp-content/

Creation of Adam (Michelangelo)- At first glance, The Creation of Adam is simply a masterpiece. Unless you’re a math geek, there doesn’t really seem to be any math involved at all. However, on second glance and with a bit more of an analytical eye, viewers can see the golden ratio (which we've described here) in all of its beauty, and see that it converges at the most dramatic point in the piece: when Adam and God are about to touch. This was not done on accident, and serves as a deep indicator of Michelangelo’s understanding of the human body.  The team at Golden Number have done an excellent job demonstrating this occurrence. Spending a day or two at the Sistine Chapel will be one of the most rewarding artistic experiences of your life, so if you get the chance to see Michelangelo’s masterpiece in person, make sure you take advantage.

image: https://silverandexact.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/portrait-of-pablo-picasso-juan-gris-1912.jpg

Portrait of Picasso (Juan Gris)- Cubism is the most modern of the art forms in this list, taking off in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Popularized by Matisse, Cezanne, and Picasso, Cubism has remained as a link between modern art of the 21^st century, and the famous painters that inhabited life before the age of technology. The math in cubism is a little bit more abstract than the geometry and ratio-based art works. Cubism is perhaps most concerned with issues of perspective, and representing the fourth dimension while remaining in the second or third.  Cubes, spheres, cones blended together in unexpected ways, resulting in pieces that aren’t necessarily flattering at first-glance (or at all), but are certainly thought-provoking. Read more on cubism here.

In Juan Gris’ 1912 piece titled Portrait of Picasso, take note of the examples of symmetry, various shapes that are represented, and the how piece seems to divide itself in half from one corner to the opposite.

image: commons.wikimedia.org

The Parthenon- Once the defining symbol of Athenian dominance, this temple dedicated to the gods is officially a member of the hall of fame for famous buildings and structures. Besides the beauty in its simultaneously simplistic and complicated architecture, the Parthenon is a key example of the various uses of the golden ratio. Yes, the same golden ratio that serves as a backdrop in Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam plays a primary role in the makeup of the Parthenon in Athens.

image: http://www.goldennumber.net/parthenon-phi-golden-ratio/

As you can see, the golden ratio is visible when approaching the Parthenon head on. The magical formula encapsulates the entire face of the Temple, touching on meeting points of columns and beams throughout the temple. There are tons more examples of the golden ratio in the Parthenon, too. Factor (#mathpun) in the fact that Euclidean geometry wasn’t even around during the time of the Parthenon’s construction, and this is a truly impressive combination of architecture and mathematics. There’s a case to be made that the Athenian empire and its accomplishments are one of the biggest contributors to birth of modern western civilization; you owe it to yourself to check it out!

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Luca Pacioli said, “Without mathematics, there is no art.” It serves as a testament to these artists’ understanding that the integration of mathematics and art is what makes for a profound impact on the viewer, and will always be beautiful because it is intrinsically “correct”.  Mathematics is found in art all over the world, and these are just four of our picks. Do you have a favorite piece of mathematical art? Let us know in the comments!