26/08/2018 What Is Foreshortening in Art?

Arts, Music, and Recreation › Hobbies & Activities

What Is Foreshortening in Art?

Extreme Control of Perspective

SHARE FLIP EMAIL

Photo ©2010 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc.

by Marion Boddy-Evans
Updated March 30, 2018

Foreshortening is a technique used in perspective to create the illusion of an object receding

strongly into the distance or background. The illusion is created by the object appearing shorter
than it is in reality, making it seem compressed. It is an excellent way to maximize the depth
and dimension of paintings and drawings.

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-foreshortening-2577559 1/9
26/08/2018 What Is Foreshortening in Art?

Advertisement

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-foreshortening-2577559 2/9
26/08/2018 What Is Foreshortening in Art?

Foreshortening applies to everything that is drawn in perspective. This includes buildings,

landscapes, still life objects, and figures.

Visualize Foreshortening
A familiar example of foreshortening in the landscape would be that of a long, straight, flat road
lined with trees. The two edges of the road appear to move towards each other as they reach into
the distance. At the same time, the trees look smaller and the road looks much shorter than it
would if it were to go straight up a very high mountain in front of us.

Foreshortening in a figure drawing or painting affects the proportions of the limbs and the
body. If you are painting a person lying on their back with their feet facing towards you, you
would paint their feet larger than their head to capture the illusion of depth and three-
dimensionality.

In essence, foreshortening can help create drama in a painting.

The Emergence of Foreshortening in Art

The use of foreshortening became popular during the Renaissance period of art. A good
example in a figure is "The Lamentation over the Dead Christ" (c. 1490, Pinacoteca di Brera,
Milan), by Renaissance painter Andrea Mantegna (1431–1506).

Advertisement

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-foreshortening-2577559 3/9
26/08/2018 What Is Foreshortening in Art?

Christ's chest and legs are shorter in order to convey a sense of depth and space. It draws us in
and makes us feel that we are at Christ's side. However, Christ's feet seen in foreshortening
would actually have appeared larger in this pose. Mantegna chose to make his feet smaller in
order to be able to see and draw the viewer's attention to Christ's head.

More Examples of Foreshortening

Once you learn to recognize foreshortening, you will begin to see it in many famous paintings.
Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel (1508–1512), for instance, are filled with the
technique. The artist used it often and that is why his paintings have such great dimension.

In particular, look at "The Separation of Light from Darkness" panel. In it, you will see that God
appears as if he is rising. This illusion relies on foreshortening.

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-foreshortening-2577559 4/9
26/08/2018 What Is Foreshortening in Art?

Another example is "A Supine Male Nude, Seen Foreshortened" (c. 1799–1805), by Joseph
Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) at the Tate Gallery. You can see that the arms and torso in
the foreground are compressed.

It is simple and an effective way to give this chalk on paper sketch real depth. Even though it
lacks background elements to give us an idea of dimension, we get a sense that the figure
stretches out from the scene.

How to Practice Foreshortening

Adding foreshortening into your own artwork is a matter of practicing the technique. You will
want to do this by looking at things from an extreme perspective that gives your subject
incredible depth. The more dramatic the perspective, the more distinct the foreshortening will
be.

You might begin by standing close to a very tall building such as a skyscraper or church steeple.
Look up and draw your perspective of the object, with the building stretching into the center of
your picture. Notice how short it seems from this angle and how the part of the building closest
to you is considerably larger than the top of the building.

To practice foreshortening in figure drawing, small wooden mannequins are useful. Artists use
these all the time to study the human form and they're perfect for perspective as well. Place your
mannequin in a pose similar to the figure examples we've discussed, then manipulate the body,
limbs, and angle from there.

With time and practice, you should have no problems incorporating foreshortening into your
artwork.

-Edited by Lisa Marder

What Is a Vanishing Point?

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-foreshortening-2577559 5/9
26/08/2018 What Is Foreshortening in Art?

What Does the Term 'Form' Mean in

Regards to Art?
How Does Proportion Affect Our
Perception of Art?

How Artists Have Portrayed the

Fourth Dimension

Understanding Perspective in Art

How Would You De ne "Shape"?

How Can Artists Direct Your Eye?

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-foreshortening-2577559 6/9
26/08/2018 What Is Foreshortening in Art?

What's the De nition of Perspective

in Regards to Artistic Technique?

Decorated rocks © Thomas Hart Benton and Rita P.

Benton Testamentary Trusts; used with
permission

What Is Texture in Art?

The Element of Space in Artistic
Media
Ways to Destroy Your Artistic Creativity

NOT The Royal Academy Exhibition

Displays Work Rejected For The Summer
Exhibition

Is It Even Possible to De ne What Art

Art Myth #1: You Need Talent Is, Exactly?

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-foreshortening-2577559 7/9
26/08/2018 What Is Foreshortening in Art?

Leisure © The Museum of Modern Art, New

York; used with permission

Why the Horizon Line Is So Important

in Perspective Drawing

Night Watch -- famous painting by

Rembrandt

Why Is Impasto Paint so Thick?

What Does Tone Do for Art?

53 Paintings by Famous Artists

Learn Something New Every Day

Enter Your Email SIGN UP

You can opt-out at any time. For more details, see our Privacy Policy.

Follow Us

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-foreshortening-2577559 8/9
26/08/2018 What Is Foreshortening in Art?

Science, Tech, Math Humanities

Arts, Music, Recreation Resources

About Us Advertise

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Careers Contact

Terms of Use

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-foreshortening-2577559 9/9