The Art and Science of Depiction -- Frédo Durand

Picture Organization and Gestalt

Wednesday, February 28. 2001

Overview

Picture organization and Gestalt psychology. Gestalt is a "holistic" approach of vision. Notion of figure goodness, continuity, closure. Simple rules: grouping, figure-ground separation, illusory contours and visual completion.

Slides of the lecture

PDF (1 per page) PDF (6 per page) PDF (6 per page, black and white with white background, better for printing)

Assignments for Monday 5

Read Art and Illusion E. H. Gombrich, Princeton University Press, 1956 briefly summarize the book, 1-2 pages, 12 point double space Piranmesi tutorial 1, 2, 3 and 4 (skip 2.4) Either send me a jpeg file of the resulting image or post-it on a web site and e-mail me address. the best is to make a screen-copy using the "print Screen" key and pasting the result in photoshop. Write a little comment on the software, pros and cons (Do not hesitate to complain). Feedback Send 5 lines (by e-mail) explaining the most important thing you've learnt in class this week, or the thing you do not agree about or the subject you would have liked to seedeveloped in more details. Illustrative image Bring or send as jpeg an image illustrating one of the issues covered during the lectures (Tuesday or Wednesday). Discussion issue Send me one or two issues or reaction about this week's readings.

Further Reading

Art and Visual Perception: a psychology of the creative eye, Rudolf Arnheim, University of California Press, 1954 Perception and Imaging, Richard D Zakia, Butterworth-Heinemann, ISBN 0240802012, 1997 The Power of the Center : A Study of Composition in the Visual Arts : The New Version, Rudolf Arnheim, Univ California Press; ISBN: 0520062426, 1988 Vision Science: From photons to phenomenology, Palmer, MIT Press Visual Perception : Physiology, Psychology and Ecology, Vicki Bruce, P.R. Green and M.A. Georgeson, Psychology Pr, 3rd Edition, 1996.

Related links

Piranesi Piranesi Discussion and FAQ Perceptual Grouping and Visual Perception WWW Ressources Sensation and Perception Tutorials Vision and Art Gestalt and Instructional Design Art, Design and Gestalt Theory Design Notes: Gestalt Illusionworks Illusions at the Exploratorium Illusions at Colorcube