What is Movement Principle in Art? 4 Types, Examples and Definition

What does movement mean in art? Let’s break it down by looking at the visual movement in art definition, examples of the principle in master artworks, and the 4 types of movement artists use.

It’s easy to understand and explain what movement is in the real world, yet it may be a little bit trickier in visual art. While video, filmmaking, and performing arts can show motion directly, the “still” visual arts need certain tools to show the viewer that the depicted object is moving.

Let’s take it one step at a time.

What is Movement in Art?

Movement in art refers to the way an artist creates the illusion of motion or action in a static image. This principle of art is used to direct the viewer’s eye movement through an artwork, often toward the focal point.

Movement refers to a sense of motion that appears as the viewer’s eyes are guided across the composition. It turns a still creation into a dynamic extension of the viewer’s imagination, making them see things in their mind and react to the image. It implies the passage of time within an artwork that exists at the moment.

Since artworks aren’t actually moving and can’t exhibit real physical motion, they need to display the illusion of movement. Therefore, the movement we’re talking about is called implied movement – there can only be hints that it’s there, and you can only imagine it in your head, not see it.

Movement can apply to a single element of the composition or to the entirety of the artwork. It relies heavily on the other elements and principles of art since they are the tools that help develop the sense of motion.

Learn how to capture movement with gesture drawing here.

7 Principles of Art

Movement is one of the principles of art, not elements of art. You can learn about each principle of art and element of art in the linked articles below:

1. Balance
2. Contrast and Emphasis
3. Movement and Rhythm
4. Unity and Variety
5. Harmony
6. Pattern
7. Proportions and Scale

The 7 Elements of Art

1. Line
2. Color
3. Form
4. Shape
5. Value
6. Texture
7. Space

The 4 Types of Movement in Art

There are 4 types of visual movement in art: physical movement, implied movement, rhythmic movement and optical movement.

And there are plenty of ways in which you can implement the movement into your artwork.

Physical Movement

Representation of physical movement in art refers to artists using different art elements to create a sense of motion in a picture. It can create literal movement – when lines, such as zigzag or spiral, are used to create an illusion of movement; or abstract movement – when contrasting shapes and colors are used to create a sense of dynamism.

This type of movement can be conveyed by drawing lines coming from the moving object or multiplying its moving parts.

The first example that comes to mind is the art style used in comics, especially action comics, where the characters move very dynamically, and there are always line variations present to imply the specific action.

You can check out the video below for a great explanation of this type of movement as it refers to comics.

Implied Movement

Implied movement is when there is a suggestion of movement in a static image. It’s not a literal representation of movement but a hint that makes the viewer imagine it. It’s often a simple visual clue that suggests that a movement has just happened or is about to happen.

Implied movement can be achieved with the use of lines, shapes, colors, optical illusions, composition and perspective.

An excellent example of this movement is El Jaleo painting by John Singer Sargent. In the painting, the artist portrays a Spanish dancer in a pose that could only be captured in the middle of a particular activity, a “freeze frame” of sorts. One can certainly imagine a before and an after of this frozen action.

Rhythmic Movement

Rhythmic movement in art refers to a repeated or alternated pattern of shapes, colors, or lines that create a sense of flow in an artwork. Artists achieve it through variation, alternation and repetition of visual elements.

You can think of it like a dance. Just like how you move your body to a beat of a song, an artist repeats several elements to suggest movement and make the artwork interesting to look at.

There are several types of rhythmic movement in art:

• Regular rhythm

• Flowing rhythm

• Progressive rhythm

• Alternating rhythm

• Random rhythm

A lot of great examples of this type of movement can be found in abstract art and the works of futurist artists.

Henri Matisse’s painting “The Dance” portrays a group of figures in a circle, with their bodies arranged in a way that suggests a rhythmic dance.

Optical Movement

Optical movement is an illusion of movement created with the use of contrast, shapes, patterns and colors. This type of movement creates an impression that a static image is moving, shifting or pulsing when it’s not.

For example, using contrasting colors close to one another creates visual vibrations (simultaneous contrast).

During the mid-twentieth century, a couple of artists explored this type of movement further and created what is now known as Op Art. Some of the more prominent Op Art artists include Victor Vasarely and Bridget Riley.

Ways to achieve movement in art

There are many ways artists use to achieve movement in artwork using art elements and principles. Many artists get creative with the task and experiment with different techniques and methods.

Let’s talk about some of them.

Color

Creating movement with the color element comes in various forms, such as using contrasting hues, juxtaposing light and dark colors, or warm and cool hues.

Artists also use analogous colors or color gradients to create a sense of flow, movement or distance.

And by using bold contrasting colors, artists add interest to their work, as well as vibrancy and motion.

Lines

Creating Movement with lines can be done in two very different ways – physical lines (like those in comics) and implied lines (for example, perspective lines).

Artists use all types of lines for this: diagonal, curved, zigzag, etc., to create movement in a composition. For example, solid or dotted line can push the eye along a given path pre-determined by an artist.

A great example of this is “Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh which uses swirling, curving dynamic lines to create a sense of motion in the night sky and the trees.

“Starry Night” is one of those paintings to which many principles of art can be applied, as its various elements are created so intentionally.

Brushwork

Loose and gestural brushwork can create a sense of movement and spontaneity in a painting. On the other hand, tighter and more controlled brushwork can suggest a sense of stillness or order.

Sweeping strokes are associated with flowing movements, and shorter strokes feel like something more interrupted and “jumpy,” like the staccato rhythm. The strokes can also point in a certain direction, assisting in moving the eyes.

Texture

Texture can create movement through its intensity, direction or style.

For example, a rough, swirling texture on some parts of the water suggests movement in the water. Or, rough blurry textures at the ends of a dancer’s dress can suggest the moving cloth as she is dancing. It’s a tool that is often successfully used in impressionist art.

Scale, Proportion and Placement

By adjusting the scale, proportion and placement of objects within the composition, artists can evoke a sense of motion.

For example, if a vase is at an angle and has no visible support, the viewer will see it as falling. If more than one foot of a portrayed animal is in the air and the animal’s body is tilted, it suggests the animal is running.

Composition

Artists achieve movement with composition by deliberately arranging different elements on a page that suggests motion.

For example, diagonal lines from one corner to the other of the picture plane, adjusting the vanishing point, etc.

Examples of Movement in Art

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is a woodblock print by Albrecht Dürer, created in 1497-1498. It portrays four figures riding horses as the focal points of the artwork.

The horizontal lines of the print create unity within the entire composition and imply that the subjects are moving horizontally. The positions of the horses’ bodies are very dynamic, and the riders have their weapons drawn, only adding to the overall compositional interest and a sense of action.

The four figures also look repetitive, adding to the visual rhythm and feeling like a stop-motion picture in which the horses are moving from the left side of the composition to the right.

The Threatened Swan – a painting by Jan Asselijn.

In the center of the composition of this artwork, you can see a swan whose nest is threatened by a hunting dog. The swan’s pose is very dynamic, with its wings being raised, its neck bent, and its feet standing wide – it’s an excellent example of capturing movement.

Another detail that implies the fast, rapid movement is some of the swan’s feathers flying mid-air, their light color contrasting against the sky. The light and shadow play in this painting create depth and rhythm. The dynamic line formed by the swan’s wings plays a major role in implying a sense of action.

The Fall of the Rebel Angels is an oil painting by Luca Giordano (1660-1665).

It’s full of the dynamic movement of the figures, but the main focal point is the angel, emphasized by lighter elements, and the viewer’s eyes tend to move directly toward him.

The angel is flying mid-air, as suggested by his spread wings and the flowing dynamic lines of the fabric of his clothes. The angel’s arm is raised to imply movement of the upcoming action. The fallen angels below create motion through visual rhythm and repetition of their twisted shapes.

Notice also the visual representation of space through the background gradient of colors that capture movement and guide the viewer’s eye from top to bottom of the composition.

Ships in Distress off a Rocky Coast is an oil painting by Ludolf Backhuysen in 1667. What we can clearly see happening in the painting is a storm and several ships in distress, struggling to keep their balance.

The storm and the movement of water are suggested by the dynamic lines, color contrasts, and the texture of water particles above the crashing waves. You can almost feel how heavy the water is and how powerfully it’s moving due to the irregular rhythm created with lines and colors.

The ships are dangerously tilted, keeping the viewer engaged and trying to predict whether they’ll be able to stay afloat.

The curved lines of the water and clouds contrast well with the angular shapes of the rocks, forming a wonderful contrast of organic and geometric shapes. This juxtaposition is creating compositional interest and only adds to the sense of movement of the still image.

Notice also the little yellow sky in the top left and how it’s contrasting in hue with the rest of the painting, especially in the bottom right corner. Another successful example of motion and directing the viewer’s eyes through the whole composition with the use of gradient and contrast.

Movement Principle – Key Takeaways

Movement definition in art:

Movement in art refers to the way an artist creates the illusion of motion or action in a static image. This principle of art is used to direct viewers’ eye movement through an artwork, often toward the focal point.

An artist use various art elements and techniques to create movement in art.

The 4 types of movement in visual art are physical, implied, rhythmic and optical.

Movement can be achieved with multiple techniques and elements, including line, color, brushwork, texture, scale, proportion, placement, and composition.

Movement Principle – Infographic