Point by James Holcomb

The Element of Art term, “point”, has many definitions, depending upon the type of art that is being discussed. A “point” usually refers to a mark or dot that has been created by a sharp or tapered end. It could also refer to the sharp or tapered end of an instrument that is used to make an indention into or onto a material. A sculptor would use a pointed tool to create a circular mark in a stone, while a painter might use a paintbrush or other tool to create a point on a paper or canvas.

The origin of the word “point” has two partial origins. From the Middle English, partly old French, word point, it could mean “prick, mark, or moment.” From the old French word, pointe, it could also be defined as “sharp end.” Of course, both of these words have their origins in the Latin word, punctum, which means, “to prick.”

The use of points in art is most definite in the style known as, “Pointillism.” This method of painting uses colored dots on a canvas that appears to create other colors as shapes when viewed from a distance. This style was developed in France in the 1880’s, with Georges Seurat being the most famous of pointillist painters. His most famous painting is A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of Le Grande Jatte.

The use of points can obviously be found in the use of art, but they are also used in a variety of other ways.

In this photo, you can see the use of a point in an arrowhead use by hunters and warriors for thousands of years. The tip of the arrow is usually the point that most people focus on due to the taper of the edge. This edge was used to create puncture the skin and create a hole. The points on the other end of the arrowhead face the opposite direction of the tip and were meant to keep the arrowhead inside the punctured object, making it difficult to remove and causing more damage.
	This photo was taken at Herman Park and is a replica of the Washington Monument. As you can see, the base of the monument is a large square that tapers upward until reaching a certain height. From there, the edges begin to converge until they meet at a point. Similar objects named “obelisks” were built by the ancient Egyptians and were displayed in places of importance. Notice the sleek, sharp sides of the edges that give the object a solid definition. The point gives the impression of power and strength.
Nature has made an effective use of points as illustrated by this cactus. Each leaf of the cactus extends to a sharp, pointed end. There are also several smaller points on each edge of the leaf as it tapers to the top point.
	The building on the right displays two landmark examples of how points can be used in architecture. The designers took a typical square building and inserted a tower on each end with a large point on the top. These two points on the building are very distinctive and are responsible for the medical center of Houston to be named as a skyline. To be named a skyline, there must be a unique building that adds to the view. These two points on the top of the Methodist Hospital are certainly unique.
This statue is displaying another definition of “point” which is to show a direction. While the “point” in this statue is not an element of art, the statue is art that shows the action of pointing. So using the “chicken-and-the-egg” logic, would a statue that shows the action of pointing, but contains no actual point, be considered as having a point within the art?
	On the right is a gemstone that displays two definitions of a point. The bottom of the gem is a point. The point is part of the reason that light is refracted through the stone, giving it color and brilliance. Gems are also measured in carats. Simply stated, a carat can be broken down into a smaller unit called a point. There are 100 points in a carat.

Through the use of points, art is given definition and clarity. But for every rule, there is the exception. Pointillism is art in which the painter covers the canvas with several dots of paint that run together when viewed from a distance. The exact placement of these dots forced the human eye to see colors and shapes that are not there, but simply dots on the canvas. As previously stated, Georges Seurat was the most famous artist who worked in pointillism. His most famous painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of Le Grande Jatte, can normally be viewed at the Art Institute of Chicago. You may view this painting online at the following web site: http://www.abcgallery.com/S/seurat/seurat87.html.

If you focus you eyes, you can see the individual marks and dots. But when you look at the entire painting as a whole, the dots come together to create colors and images that define the painting.

Another example of pointillism is another Nineteenth century Frenchman by the name of Paul Signac. His painting, River’s Edge: The Seine at Herblay, is on display at Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France. You may view this painting online at http://www.abcgallery.com/S/signac/signac11.html. An interesting observation about this painting is that it appears to be painted with mostly blue colors. The dots and marks are obvious as in the other painting, but focusing on them will not allow you to see the subtleties of the landscape. Through points, Signac has created buildings, the appearance of water flowing, shadow, and reflections of objects in the water. The white dots give the appearance of depth as well as a haze from the river.

Bibliography

1. Mataev, Olga. Olga's Gallery. Dec.2003. 09 Sep.2003
http://www.abcgallery.com/

2. Delahunt, Michael. "Art Lex." . Aug.1996. 09 Sep.2003
http://www.artlex.com/

3. "Dictionary.com." 2003. Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. 19 Sep. 2003
http://www.dictionary.com/