Emphasis and Subordination are complimentary concepts.
Emphasis is an area of focus. The art elements draw attention to this part of the work.
Subordination is a term used to describe the surroundings that provide a context without distracting from the emphasis.
III. Examples of the terms:
The Elements of Art are used to create areas of Emphasis and Subordination.
COLOR:
Intense colors attract attention and can be used for emphasis. Warm colors tend to stand out more than cool colors.
Cezanne Still Life 1892-99
Cezanne placed emphasis on the center with bright primary and secondary colors. The use of white accentuates the colors. The rest of the work is subordinated with muted colors.
LIGHT:
Visual contrast of light and dark (value) creates emphasis. If something is illuminated by light it will stand out against its dark surroundings. Similarly, a dark spot in a predominately light work will attract attention.
Thomas Eakins The Gross Clinic 1875
The most important people in this painting are the patient and the head surgeon. The bright light emphasizes them. We can't see much of the patient but the white cloth creates a focal point in the darkened room. The doctor is also emphasized with light on his forehead and his white hair.
LINE:
Lines can be used as visual paths to guide your eyes to a focal point or emphasis.
Kathe Kollwitz Death Seizing a Woman 1934
When I look at this drawing, the woman's face attracts my attention. Notice how most of the lines point to this focal point.
SPACE:
We tend to pay more attention to the things nearest to us. An artist can create emphasis by simply placing something in the foreground (lower on the picture plane).
Bill Brandt Portrait of a Young Girl, Eaton Place, London 1955
The girl's face is emphasized in this photograph. She seems very close because her face dominates the lower half of the image. The other objects are subordinated as a result of diminished scale, overlapping, and higher placement on the picture plane.
TEXTURE:
Interesting textures can attract attention and create emphasis.
Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy, Portrait of Ivan I. Shishkin 1880
When I look at this portrait, I am captivated by the detailed texture in the man's face and hair. I may look at other areas, but my gaze quickly moves back up to his head.
SHAPE/MASS:
Emphasis can be created with a unique shape or mass.
Ben Nicholson White Relief 1936
In this sculptural relief a single circle is emphasized because the round shape is unusual in the design. Similarly, the emphasis would be on a single rectangle in a work dominated by circles.
