Drawing and Painting in Pure Design
Positions
Definition of Positions
14. Take a pencil and a piece of paper. With the pencil, on the paper, mark a dot or point.
By this dot (A) three ideas are expressed: an idea of Tone, the tone of lead in the pencil; an idea of Measure, the extent of the space covered by the dot; and an idea of Shape, the character given to the dot by its outline or contour. The dot is so small that its tone, its measure, and its shape will not be seriously considered. There is another idea, however, which is expressed by the dot or point,—an idea of Position. That is its proper meaning or signification. There is presumably a reason for giving the dot one position rather than another.