ATTITUDES
RELATIONS OF POSITION IN DIFFERENT ATTITUDES
50. Given any relation of positions (directions, distances, intervals), it may be turned upon a center and so made to take an indefinite number and variety of attitudes. It may be inverted and the inversion may be turned upon a center, producing another series of attitudes. Except in cases of axial balance, the attitudes of the second series will be different from those of the first.
Fig. 50
In this case the relation of positions being turned upon a center changes its attitude, while the positions within the group remain relatively unchanged. There is no change of shape.
Fig. 51
In this case the same group has been inverted, and a second series of attitudes is shown, differing from the first series.
Fig. 52
In this case, however, which is a case of axial balance, the inversion of the group and the turning of the inversion on a center gives no additional attitudes.
51. Among all possible attitudes there are four which are principal or fundamental, which we may distinguish as follows:—
Fig. 53
These principal attitudes are: First, I, the original attitude, whatever it is; second, II, the single inversion of that attitude, to the right on a vertical axis; third, III, the double inversion of the original attitude, first to the right then down; and, fourth, IV, the single inversion of the original position, down across the horizontal axis.
THE ORDER OF HARMONY
IN ATTITUDES
52. The repetition of any relation of positions without change of attitude gives us Harmony of Attitudes.
Fig. 54
In this case we have not only a Harmony in the repetition of a certain relation of positions and of intervals, but a Harmony of Attitudes. We have, in the relation of positions repeated, a certain shape. In the repetition of the shape we have Shape-Harmony. In the repetition of the shape in a certain attitude we have a Harmony of Attitudes.
Fig. 55
In this case we have lost the Harmony of Attitudes which we had in [Fig. 54], but not the Harmony of a certain shape repeated.
53. The possibilities of Harmony in the repetition of any relation of positions in the same attitude has been discussed. A Harmony of Attitudes will occur, also, in the repetition of any relation of attitudes.
Fig. 56
Here we have Harmony in the repetition of a relation of two attitudes of a certain group of positions. The combination of the two attitudes gives us another group of positions and the Harmony lies in the repetition of this group.
THE ORDER OF BALANCE
IN ATTITUDES
54. It is to be observed that single inversions in any direction, for example the relation of attitudes I and II, II and III, III and IV, IV and I, in [Fig. 53], shows an opposition and Balance of Attitudes upon the axis of inversion. The relation of positions I and II and III and IV, the relation of the two groups on the left to the two groups on the right, illustrates the idea of Symmetry of Attitudes, the axis of balance being vertical. By Symmetry I mean, in all cases, right and left balance on a vertical axis. All double inversions, the relation of positions I and III, and II and IV, in [Fig. 53], are Attitude-Balances, not on axes, but on centers. The balance of these double inversions is not symmetrical in the sense in which I use the word symmetry, nor is it axial. It is central.
THE ORDER OF RHYTHM
IN ATTITUDES
55. When movement is suggested by any series of attitudes and the movement is regulated by equal or regularly progressive intervals, we have a Rhythm of Attitudes.
Fig. 57
In this case the changes of attitude suggest a falling movement to the right and down. In the regular progression of this movement through marked intervals we have the effect of Rhythm, in spite of the fact that the relation of positions repeated has axial balance. The intervals in this case correspond, producing Interval-Harmony. The force of this Rhythm might be increased if the relation of positions repeated suggested a movement in the same direction. We should have Rhythm, of course, in the repetition of any such unstable attitude-rhythms at equal or lawfully varying intervals.