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Gradation of Texture

 

 

 

 

Albrecht Durer’s drawing of a rhinoceros relies heavily on gradation of texture to explore, in great detail, the surface of the animals skin. By intensifying the texture in the lower half of the animal he has increased the appearance of a solid, heavy mass. The increase in textural detail on the lower region of the head make it seem extremely heavy, pulling it towards the ground. By using a gradation of texture, rather than an overall texture, the drawing is made much more interesting.

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Albrecht Dürer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) “Rhinoceros” (1515)

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