The Third Dimention in a Landscape

Abstract

The present study examines the principles of conveying the third dimension in landscape painting. The author analyzes the recommendations provided in J. Littlejohns’ manual entitled “The Composition of a Landscape” [London, 1931]. J. Littlejohns describes four methods of showing depth in a landscape painting, each illustrated with pictorial composition schemes: 1) portrayal of long roads, which allows one to unveil the plasticity of the land surface; 2) creation of a “route” for the viewer by means of a well-thought-out arrangement of natural landforms; 3) introduction of vertically and horizontally flowing streams of water on different picture planes; 4) depiction of cloud shadows on a distinctly hilly landscape. The author of the article compares the schemes contained in the manual of J. Littlejohns with the works of G. G. Nissky, which enables readers to comprehend and reflect on the compositions of the masterpieces created by a prominent figure in Soviet art; on the other hand, Nissky’s landscape paintings open for a deeper understanding of the meaning and effectiveness of the methods proposed by J. Littlejohns. The outlined composition techniques are certainly relevant for contemporary artists (painters, graphic artists, animators, designers, etc.) as they make it possible to achieve the plastic expressiveness of a three-dimensional space in a twodimensional image.