Weight

DEFINITION

Either the actual (physical) or the apparent (visual or compositional) heaviness of an object. When referring to the actual weight of an object, weight is a measurement of the force with which that object is attracted to earth (or some other celestial body) in such units as grams, kilograms, pounds, ounces, and stones. When referring to the visual or compositional weight of a portion of an image, weight is the relative visual dominance, emphasis, pull or force of attraction of that portion (object, volume, etc.) of a composition (picture, sculpture, etc.) The weight of a portion of a composition can depend in part upon such factors as its location (arrangement) in a composition, the extent of its isolation from other parts (distance from or contrast with other parts), and the psychological pull of its meaning. Human faces and other parts of figures, for instance, typically attract the viewer's gaze more powerfully than most other subjects.(pr. wayt)Quote: "It is weight that gives meaning to weightlessness . . . I realised that lightness added to lightness does not add tension but diminishes it." Isamu Noguchi (1904-19), American sculptor, in Sculptor's World. Also see balance, other principles of design, contrapposto, counterpoise, direction, focal point, juxtaposition, science and art, and tension.