China's calligraphy is an abstract art of lines. Lines are the foundation and soul of calligraphy, and the only medium for calligraphy to extend its life. Thread is composed of bone, tendon, vein, meat and skin, and all of them are indispensable. If they are divided into five parts, they will be one. "Bone, tendon, pulse, flesh and skin", that is, the "five bodies" of traditional Chinese medicine, are important tissues that constitute the whole human body. Calligraphy lines require five forms, but also need symmetry and coordination, otherwise the lines will lose their beautiful texture and enjoyment.
Painting:
In sketch modeling, line is the most basic modeling method. If modeling is an artistic language, then lines are the most basic morphemes in this language. Simple lines can't explain anything in painting, but when they are used to express something or a specific environment, they give it a certain connotation. From the line modeling of Chinese painting to the line modeling of foreign sketches, this point is illustrated. For example, in the ink bamboo painted by Zheng Banqiao, the lines he used are mostly vigorous straight lines, which express the integrity and tenacious vitality of bamboo. Xu Beihong vividly shows the human body's shape and movements in front of the world with the relationship between light and shade formed by dense lines. Matisse, on the other hand, used those soft and smooth lines in her work Dance, which fully showed the graceful movements and postures of women, all through the special language of line drawing modeling.
Music and dance:
Music can be described by lines, so dance itself is body language, which can be said to be a linear art. Colorful lines create ever-changing dance postures.
Architecture:
Egyptian optical illusion art (from about 4000 BC) is undoubtedly a line art, and it has no three-dimensional sense in the treatment of painting and bas-relief art style, even in the surface treatment of buildings. In Egyptian optical illusion art, there is only rigorous modeling "depth". The surface of the pyramid is straight and has no three-dimensional sense, while the obelisk whose external form is purely a symbol of line art is covered with hieroglyphics with the same line nature. In the early Christian art, the architectural form was also simple and linear. Various schools of Roman art popular throughout Europe have developed. The desire for safety seems to be manifested in the walls of protective castles and heavy church doors, which are often the only signs of desolate landscapes (just like the central plateau in Overwien). On the gates of these churches, repeated lines are used to create a heavy sense of volume. The semicircular lines of Roman arches were basically preserved, and it was not until the Middle Ages that the lines of the arches became sharp, so that it was possible to form a more forced vault. Of course, the gothic lines in the middle ages were steep and slender, symbolizing the belief of people who pursued the kingdom of heaven. In about four centuries from the 12th century to the 16th century, this style will spread all over northern Europe. Optical illusion artists and architects are discovering new line expressions every day.