Human figure (aesthetics).html



Michelangelo's David

Art by Thomas Ridgeway Gould American 1818 - 1881, see also profile view

In aesthetics, human figure or human form is collection of all attributes of the human's body. It is not just confined to body shape. It also includes body postures while a human sits or stands or even sleeps. Movements of walking, running, dancing etc. come under human figure. In section 17 Kant refers the human figure as the ideal of beauty¹. The human figure conforms very well to the law that states that form follows function, which is a result of evolution over thousands of generations.

Study

Human figure is studied in detail in following subjects:

• Sculpture² is similar to figure drawing.
• Figure drawing deals with depiction of body in different posture or motion or work.
• Literature describes a human figure to imply individual's sexual attraction, physical ability and mentality.
• Dance forms.
• Body language
• Fashion and accessories.
• Ergonomics in passenger vehicles and seatings, this deals with unisex approach to human figure.
• Gait analysis
• 3D animation

Very few of art forms are not related to human figure such as music, though it figures in lyrics.

Body proportions

Main article: Body proportions

Body proportions are the study of relation of human body, or in general, animal body, parts to each other and the whole, essential for depiction of the overall figure.

Sculpture and figure drawing

Nude study, Annibale Carracci.

Figure drawing is an exercise in drawing the human body in its various shapes and positions. Life drawing refers to the process of drawing the human figure from observation of a live model. In sculpture, human figure is generally shown nude.

See also: Sculpture and figure drawing

See also

• Human body shape and Body proportions
• Figure drawing
• Female body shape

Notes

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ Human figure in various art forms[2]

References

• [3]
• [4]
• [5]

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