What is Rhythm in Art? 5 Types, Examples, Definition

What does rhythm mean in art? Let’s learn by learning the rhythm definition and taking a look at a few outstanding art examples of rhythm from art history.

In music, rhythm is the underlying beat that is easy to hear and distinguish, but in visual art, it might be harder to spot with an untrained eye.

I hope you will be able to see rhythm and not just hear it by the end of reading this article.

What is rhythm in art?

Rhythm in visual art is the repetition or pattern of various visual elements, such as lines, shapes, colors, values, forms or textures, in a way that creates a sense of movement or flow within the artwork.

Unlike repetition (which is simply repeating elements of a single element many times) and pattern (a repetition of more than one element of design), rhythm can be created by the gaps as well.

Not the objects themselves but the intervals between the repetition, like pauses in music, that create the beat and sense of movement.

The term “rhythm” in art refers mostly to the visual flow within the art piece. Therefore, art created with different techniques can have drastically distinct flows.

Some artworks seem calmer and more relaxed, while others produce a sense of disorder, chaos, and imbalance. In the end, most artists choose where to place the elements of their work guided by their inner compass, and you can see and feel the different rhythms too.

• Learn about using rhythm in composition with Bill Perkins class.

7 Principles of Art

Rhythm 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 (we are learning about rhythm now!)
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

What are the 5 types of visual art rhythm?

Rhythm in art can be categorized into five types:

• Regular Rhythm
• Random Rhythm
• Flowing Rhythm
• Alternating Rhythm
• Progressive Rhythm

Regular Rhythm in Art

Regular rhythm in art refers to a predictable repetition of one or more elements in a regular pattern, like a heartbeat. This type of rhythm creates a sense of stability and order.

In other words, it’s when things are repeated over and over again in the same way, like a pattern. For example, a row of houses.

A great example of regular rhythm is a painting by Claude Monet, “A Row of Poplar Trees Line the River Epte.”

In it, we can clearly see the repeating vertical lines created by the repetition of the tall, slender poplar trees along the riverbank. They are evenly spaced and arranged in a straight line, drawing the viewer’s eye along these rows of trees.

Ferdinand Hodler’s art above features a clear illustration of a regular rhythm by using repeating geometric and organic shapes in a predictable pattern.

The landscape painting is composed of rows or similar rectangular shapes neatly stacked on top of one another. If you take a look at the clouds themselves, one might argue they are more of a random rhythm.

However, looking at the arrangement of each element horizontally, we see they are perfectly placed on one line, creating one more section of the many of this regular rhythm pattern.

Random Rhythm in Art

Random rhythm in art refers to an irregular placement of one or more elements. This type of rhythm creates a sense of spontaneity, surprise, and energy.

To keep it simple, it’s when things are placed randomly or scattered around. For example, confetti or stars in the night sky. It makes things look lively and exciting, like a celebration.

Keep in mind that although an artwork may look like its elements were placed without a purpose or plan, artists often create a random rhythm on purpose.

• Draw Using Reilly Rhythms with a free lesson from Tim Gula

A Review of the Northampton Militia at Brackley by Thomas Rowlandson seems to contain two different rhythms: regular and random.

The background of this work depicts rows of soldiers in uniforms, representing an imperfect regular rhythm. The repetitiveness of similar-looking figures symbolizes stability like a drumbeat – which works great with the marching band in the middle ground.

The front row in the foreground of the artwork shows a very diverse crowd looking at the military parade. The differences between their figures and postures make up a random rhythm perfect for conveying a loud, erratic crowd.

It also paints the contrast between the rows of soldiers and the crowd of bystanders.

Also, Jackson Pollock’s drip paintings are a great example of random rhythm, with their seemingly chaotic splatters and drips of paint. Check out the video above to see some of his work and learn more about the artist.

Flowing Rhythm in Art

Flowing rhythm in art refers to the continuous movement of one or more elements in a smooth, organic manner. A sense of harmony, fluidity, and grace is created by this type of rhythm.

To rephrase, it’s when elements move smoothly and naturally. For example, imagine waves in the ocean, leaves on a tree or sand dunes.

Usually, it can be seen in artwork containing curves, bends, circles, and flowy lines that give it the flowing movement.

Perhaps the most famous example of the flowing rhythm is the “Starry night” painting by Vincent Van Gogh.

Though the artist uses many tools and art principles within the piece, we can observe the swirling brushstrokes all over the artwork that add to the flowing rhythm throughout.

The sky looks like it’s in constant motion with the swirling patterns of stars and clouds. Vincent Van Gogh achieved a sense of harmony, movement and energy with the flowing rhythm in this masterful art piece.

Also, “Rehearsal of the Pasdeloup Orchestra at the Cirque d’Hiver” by John Singer Sargent has a flowing rhythm. The circle of musicians draws attention first, then other art elements flowing from their figures and instruments and expanding to the edges of the art piece.

With the use of red curved lines that represent seating in the back to the front, these graphic design elements and patterns guide your eyes in a circular motion.

Alternating Rhythm in Art

An alternating rhythm in art is when two or more different elements are repeated in a predictable sequence. This type of rhythm creates a sense of contrast, variation, and balance.

For example, stripes on a shirt, black and white squares, and keys on a piano or a chessboard. It’s a great way to break the monotony that can occur with the use of the regular rhythm.

A great example of alternating visual rhythm is ‘Endless Rhythm’ by Robert Delaunay. The oil painting features a series of circles in various sizes and colors arranged in an alternating pattern.

The larger and smaller circles alternate with each other at regular intervals, as do the warm and cool colors.

Also, the alternating colors circles seem to be overlapping in ways that reinforce the alternating patterns and add a sense of depth and dimensionality to the painting.

Many of the incredible works of Hans Hinterreiter are superb examples of alternating rhythm.

For instance, a work named “ME 25 B” showcases many art elements repeating in the same circular pattern. Or, a personal favorite of mine, the work “Studie 112” does the same, with the most pleasant shapes, blue color values and regular rhythms.

Progressive Rhythm in Art

Progressive rhythm or progressive rhythms in art is characterized by gradual changes of one or multiple characteristics of the repeated elements like size, shape, color, proximity, number, etc. It creates a sense of growth, development, and transformation.

In simpler terms, it’s when things change gradually over time, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly or a seed growing into a flower.

Progressive rhythm can increase or decrease and change subtly or noticeably. Think of it like a journey.

Ploughing in Nevers, 1849, by Rosa Bonheur, is a great example of progressive rhythm. It appears due to the perspective of the painting – the closer the animals, workers and plowed soil get to the viewer, the larger they seem.

The progressive rhythm grabs your attention and makes you follow the slowly walking cattle with your eyes, left to right, and you can almost see them moving, pulling their plows. You can sense that the rhythm of the painting is meant to be quite slow and monotonous.

“Cenotaph to the Memory of Sir Joshua Reynolds” by John Constable can be categorized as a progressive rhythm type.

We can see the progression of the number and density of elements, as well as their value, size and number of them from foreground to background. Note how much negative space is in the foreground in comparison to the rest of the painting.

This helps lead the viewer’s eyes towards the memorial located among these trees and pin your attention on this main object of the work.

Key Takeaways

Rhythm in art is created through the repetition or pattern of various visual elements.

Similar to how music has a beat that affects us, visual art can also generate a feeling of movement with visual arts rhythm. This creates a flow that guides our eye across the artwork. It’s like a dance that the art piece invites us to participate in as we move from one element to the next.

There are five different types of rhythm in art:

• Regular rhythm;
• Random rhythm;
• Flowing rhythm;
• Alternating rhythm;
• Progressive rhythm.

Rhythm in art refers to the visual flow within the art piece, and different techniques can produce distinct flows, ranging from calm and relaxed to chaotic and unbalanced.

Ultimately, rhythm in visual art is a powerful tool that allows artists to create works that are dynamic, engaging, and full of life.

It’s time for you to take the next step and create rhythm in your own art. Ready?

Rhythm in Art Infographic