In this case we have a curved movement. The lines being spaced at regular intervals, the movement is in regular and marked measures. Its direction is due to an increase in the number of attractions, to crowding, and to convergences. The movement is, accordingly, rhythmical.
Fig. 150
The movement of [Fig. 149] is here partly destroyed by an inversion and opposition of attitudes and directions. The movement is, on the whole, up, but it can hardly be described as rhythmical, because it has no repetition upwards, as it has in the next illustration, [Fig. 151]. Before proceeding, however, to the consideration of [Fig. 151], I want to call the attention of the reader to the fact that we have in [Fig. 150] a type of Balance to which I have not particularly referred. It is a case of unsymmetrical balance on a vertical axis. The balancing shapes and movements correspond. They incline in opposite directions. They diverge equally from the vertical axis. The inclinations balance. At the same time the composition does not answer to our understanding of Symmetry. It is not a case of right and left balance on the vertical axis. The shapes and movements are not right and left and opposite. One of the shapes is set higher than the other. The balance is on the vertical. It is obvious, but it is not symmetrical. It is a form of Balance which has many and very interesting possibilities.
Fig. 151
The repetition, in this case, of somewhat contrary movements, a repetition at equal intervals on a vertical axis, gives us more Balance than Rhythm. We feel, however, a general upward movement through the repetitions and, as this movement is regular, it must be described as rhythmical.
The feeling of upward movement in [Fig. 151] is, no doubt, partly due to the suggestion of upward growth in certain forms of vegetation. The suggestion is inevitable. So far as the movement is caused by this association of ideas it is a matter, not of sensation, but of perception. The consideration of such associations of ideas does not belong, properly, to Pure Design, where we are dealing with sense-impressions, exclusively.
104. Rhythm is not inconsistent with Balance. It is only necessary to get movements which have the same or nearly the same direction and which are rhythmical in character to balance on the same axis and we have a reconciliation of the two principles.
