The Ultimate List of Artworks that Use Line (2024)

The Ultimate List of Artworks that Use Line (1)

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Inside:This is ultimate list of example artworks that show the different types of line in art for your elements and principles of art lessons. The list of types of line in art includes implied lines, diagonal lines, gesture lines, outlines, contour lines, expressive lines, and more!

I don’t know about you, but I often find myself needing to teach a lesson on one of the elements and principles of art, but it takes a bit of digging to find good examples of art that teach that particular element. To help those in that situation, I have created an elements and principles series that includes lists of example artworks you can use in your elements and principles of art lessons.

To start, I am going to focus on example artworks that use the different types ofline in art.

I will add to this list of the types of line in art when I find more, so this is a good one to pin or bookmark! The horizontal picture collages do not have all the pictures from the categories, FYI.

Download the Free Elements and Principles Printable Pack

The Ultimate List of Artworks that Use Line (3)


This pack of printables was designed to work in a variety of ways in your classroom when teaching the elements and principles of art. You can print and hang in your classroom as posters/anchor charts or you can cut each element and principle of art in its own individual card to use as a lesson manipulative.

See Also
Line

The Ultimate List of Artworks that Use Line (4)

Examples of Types of Line in Art

Artworks that Show Line, General

Horizontal and Vertical Lines in Art

Diagonal Lines in Artworks

Contour Lines and/or Outlines

The Ultimate List of Artworks that Use Line (9)

Gesture Lines, Lines that Show Movement

The Ultimate List of Artworks that Use Line (10)

Lines that Help Guide The Viewer’s Eye through the Picture and/or Implied Lines

The Ultimate List of Artworks that Use Line (11)

Lines that Show Feeling/Emotion, Expressive Lines

Repetition of Line, Pattern Using Line, Decorative Line

Lines in Architecture

The Ultimate List of Artworks that Use Line (14)

Lines in Sculpture

Lines that Show Texture and/or Shading

Lines that Show Space and/or Linear Perspective

Lines the Show Emphasis

The Ultimate List of Artworks that Use Line (15)

Elements and Principles Teaching Bundle

This extraordinary bundle includes the best resources for teaching each of the elements and principles—37 worksheets/handouts, 15 lessons (with accompanying PowerPoints and Handouts), 3 ready-to-go art analysis activities, 3 art analysis videos, and 13 elements and principle PDF articles.

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There you have it! The best types of line in art examples for your elements and principles of art lessons. Want more elements and principles of art teacher resources? Check out the below posts.

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The Ultimate List of Artworks that Use Line (2024)

FAQs

What is the art style that only uses lines? ›

Line art or line drawing is any image that consists of distinct straight lines or curves placed against a background (usually plain), without gradations in shade (darkness) or hue (color) to represent two-dimensional or three-dimensional objects.

What artists are famous for using line? ›

Picasso, Matisse, Kandinsky, and Klee might all have harnessed the line as a tool they made their own, but the power of the line is an ever-changing one, its consistency to be found in its unerring ability to effect every facet of our visual culture.

What is the art of using lines? ›

Line art is defined as the act of creating an illustration using basic strokes of varying weights and angles that demonstrate form and depth. It does not include shading or gradient, and instead, focuses solely on lines.

What is the most famous one-line art? ›

Together with fellow artist Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso designed black-and-white artwork characterized by simplified, curvy lines and contours. That was in 1950! One of the most famous works is probably the Dove of Peace, which was also created with only one continuous line.

What is the art style with only straight lines? ›

Minimalist line art is a style of art that features simple, clean lines and minimal use of colour. This style emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as a reaction to the more complex and detailed styles that were popular at the time.

What type of art is line art? ›

Created with pencil, ink, or pixels, line art describes monochromatic illustrations consisting of varying weights or thicknesses of lines. You can make line art with any one color on a solid background, although it's typically done in black and white.

Is line art still in style? ›

In the present day, line art has become a popular trend. Fuelled by social media, many are discovering line art as an intimate and inoffensive solution to bare walls.

What artist is famous for straight lines? ›

Piet Mondrian painted for 20 years using just straight lines and the primary colors. What other colors do you see besides red, yellow, and blue? If you said black and white, you're right! Piet Mondrian used vertical lines (up and down) and horizontal lines (side to side) most often in his work.

What are some famous lines by artists? ›

“Art is never finished, only abandoned.” – Leonardo Da Vinci. “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.” – Andy Warhol. “If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.” – Émile Zola. “I dream of painting and then I paint my dream.” – Vincent Van ...

What art focuses on line? ›

Artworks that Show Line, General
  • Richard Long, A Line Made by Walking, 1967.
  • Richard Long, Cornish Slate Line, 1990.
  • Frank Stella, Jarama II, 1982.
  • Roy Lichtenstein, Brushstroke, 1965.
  • Charles Sheeler, Classic Landscape, 1931.
  • Joan Miró, The Farm, 1921–1922.
  • Rembrandt van Rijn, Two Studies Of A Bird Of Paradise, 1630.
Apr 29, 2015

What makes the artistic way of using lines? ›

Line in an artwork can be used in many different ways. It can be used to suggest shape, pattern, form, structure, growth, depth, distance, rhythm, movement and a range of emotions. We have a psychological response to different types of lines: Curved lines suggest comfort and ease.

What do lines symbolize in art? ›

For example, a horizontal line supposedly conveys restfulness, since it mimics the position of a body in repose; a vertical line supposedly conveys spirituality, because it infers height; mixed horizontal and vertical lines supposedly convey stability; diagonal lines supposedly convey motion; and curved lines ...

Who is the number 1 artwork in the world? ›

"Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci

Undoubtedly the most famous painting in the world, Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" is an enigmatic masterpiece that has fascinated viewers for centuries.

Who is the artist famous for lines? ›

Pablo Picasso

Picasso's line art often displayed an incredible economy of lines, yet every stroke seemed purposeful and deliberate. Among the contemporary one line artists, one name that stands out is DFT (David F. Taylor).

What is the oldest line drawing? ›

Southern Africa

After extensive testing for seven years, it was revealed that the lines drawn on the rock were handmade and from an ochre crayon dating back 73,000 years. This makes it the oldest known rock painting.

What is the art style with simple lines? ›

Line art, a form of artistic expression that utilizes simple lines to create intricate designs, has been a staple in the art world for centuries. From ancient cave paintings to modern digital creations, line art continues to captivate audiences with its elegance and simplicity.

What is minimal line art called? ›

Line art, also known as line drawing or minimalist line art, is an easy choice for achieving this minimal style in your interior decor.

What is linear style in art? ›

Linear art

Linear could describe the painting of artists such as Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Ingres, whose works depend on creating the illusion of a degree of three-dimensionality by means of "modeling the form" through skillful drawing, shading, and an academic (rather than impulsive) use of color.

What is continuous line art called? ›

Continuous contour lines are created by drawing a subject without lifting the pen from the paper. This type of line is great for creating intricate, detailed drawings and can be used to create a sense of texture and depth.

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