Rabatment
Rabatment refers to the rotation of the short side of the rectangle on to the longer side. This creates a square inside of the rectangle from both ends. It also produces a series of vertical and diagonal lines. These diagonals cut across the full rectangle and the square within the rectangle. The compositional system of Rabatment emphasizes a feeling of dynamic movement. Whereas, the Division of Thirds emphasizes balance and stability. Rabatment has been used by artists as diverse as Manet to Kandinsky, realism to abstract expressionism. Rabatment is an under-lying framework that ties an image together while emphasizing a dynamic feeling of movement based on the diagonal.
Assignment: Changing The View Finder
Materials
- View Finder from the Division of Thirds Exercise
- String/ Dental floss/ Yarn
- Tape
- Ruler
- Pencil
To change your view finder for this exercise:
- Remove the horizontal strings
- Find the half-way point on your 6″ side. Make a mark at 3″
- Take the string and create a diagonal across the entire rectangle from the upper left corner to the lower right corner. Tape in place.
- Next, create a diagonal across the rabatment square from upper left corner to the vertical that forms this square. Tape.
- Next, create a diagonal from the upper left to the half-way point on the 6″ side (mark at 3″). Tape.
- Look at the PDF to see the pattern that I am looking for.
Now you are ready to proceed to the assignment.
Assignment: 2 Compositional Sketches
Materials:
- 11×14 pad
- 2B pencil
- Ruler
- Gum Eraser
- Ball Point Pen
Draw your compositions:
- On your 11×14 pad (held vertically) make two 6″ x 9″ rectangles. Mark off on the 9″ side, 3″ and 6″. Draw two verticals at these marks. The framework can be drawn in ball point pen if you would like.
- On the first rectangle: Next, create the diagonals from the upper left corner- 1 to the lower right corner; 1 to the vertical that forms the rabatment square; 1 to the half-way point on the 6″ side. This should replicate your view finder.
- On the second rectangle: Reverse the diagonals so that they move from the lower right to the upper left. This follows the pattern if you flip your view finder and rotate it.
- Next, draw two different compositions within these rectangles. First sketch lightly to place your objects within the framework. Next, put down the view finder and correctly sketch your objects, making comparisons. Draw in basic shadow shapes and cast shadows. Add values.
Upload the completed sketches to the assignment section.
T/TH, DUE:
M/W, Due:
Examples of Rabatment as used by Edward Manet
Drawing Class 