Taj Mahal Essay

The Essay Question
Chapter 8 (1) In your own words please describe the three different types of balance in artistic compositions. Cite examples from the text to support each example. The first art work I picked is picture number 8.3 on page 152 of the textbook. The beautiful architectural work of Taj Mahal was done during the Mughal period. The work was done in 1632-48. It is locate in Agra, India. The second art work I picked is picture number 8.10 on page 158 of the textbook. The art work is done by Mescalero Apache. The coiled basket was done in early twentieth century. It is located at Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson. The third art work I picked is figure number 8.6 on page 155 of the textbook. It’s oil on canvas by Johannes Vermeer. The name of the painting is called “Woman Holding a Balance” done in 1664. Sixteen by three fourth and fifteen inches in length, Twenty four by three fourth times twenty three times three inches in width. It is located at Widener Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. As we have learned in the class on the topic of principles of design it focuses on the balance and it refers to “the even distribution of weight in a composition”. In many cases, the artist uses their visual balance in three ways – Symmetrical balance, Asymmetrical balance, and Radial balance. The first is the Symmetrical balance, which is termed as two halves of composition corresponds to one other in term of size, shape, and placement of forms. The second one is the Asymmetrical balance, which is identified as it occurs when elements are placed unevenly in a piece, but work together to produce harmony overall. The third one is the Radial balance, which is identified as, the result of components that are distributed around a center point or spring out from a centerline. The Taj Mahal is the best example to describe