Emphasis
Emphasis is used by artists to create dominance and focus in their work.
Artists can emphasize color, value, shapes, or other art elements to achieve dominance.
Various kinds of contrast can be used to emphasize a center of interest.
Emphasis in Fine Art
Henri de Toulouse Lautrec - "At the Moulin Rouge", 1892/1895
The emphasis in de Toulouse-Lautrec's painting is on the atmosphere and the strange lighting and color in a Paris cabaret. Actually, we are drawn into the five-member group of people seated at the table, where emphasis is on conversation among friends. This center of interest is otherwise known as a focal area.
Focal areas emphasize the most important aspect of a work of art. Visual emphasis on a focal area can be achieved by using the strongest light and dark value contrasts. It can also be developed by using other strong contrasts of art elements, such as shape.
Source: Elements and Principles of Design: Student Guide with Activities, published by Crystal Productions
The Rule of Thirds
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