The definition of two-dimensional art is any kind of art that is represented on a two-dimensional surface. The definition of 2 dimensions in relation to art is something that exists in two dimensions, like height and width. Drawing, painting, and photography are all forms of two-dimensional artwork. Two-dimensional art at its earliest lies in cave paintings by early humans, which often depicted animal figures. Since, two-dimensional art has evolved to become a broad category, including artforms like lithography and printmaking, as well as photography in addition to traditional drawing and painting.
Three-Dimensional art
Three-dimensional art is any kind of art that takes up three-dimensional space, meaning it has a height, width, and depth. Sculpture and architecture are the two primary forms of two-dimensional art. Just as two-dimensional art has been around since the earliest days of humanity, so has three-dimensional art. Some of the oldest sculptures ever found are roughly 40,000 years old. The art form exists even today, expanding to include new materials such as plastic and computer software.
Two-Dimensional Drawing
Two-dimensional drawings utilize dry media to create shapes and forms on a surface. The most common surface to create a drawing on is paper. The paper itself has many different types and varieties, all with different thicknesses and textures to meet the preferences of the artist. The key difference between drawing and other forms of 2D art is that drawing utilizes dry media. This includes pencils, charcoals, and pastels. Drawings can also utilize ink via pens.
Many of the most famous artists utilizing drawing are also very famous for painting, as well. Leonardo da Vinci's ''Vitruvian Man'', for example, is a very famous drawing found in his notes on Vitruvius Pollio, a famous architect at the time. It depicts a man with arms outstretched and legs standing close together. The figure also has a second set of arms and legs in another position, more adducted from the body. The drawing analyzes the proportions of the human male body and how to recreate them in drawing and painting.
 |
Two-Dimensional Painting
Two-dimensional painting is likely the first thing people think of when thinking "what is 2D art?" Paintings are often done on a canvas with paints and brushes, though any form of wet media can be a painting. For example, watercolor is a form of wet media that is a translucent dye or ink that is brushed onto paper.
Painting has a history that is as long as the existence of mankind. The first paintings ever created were made from colors created from things found in nature, like berries or charcoal. This painting, found in Chauvet cave, depicts different animal forms in profile as well as other poses, painted in a black pigment.
 |
Another common form of painting that was popular throughout much of history is fresco painting, where artists would use plaster to paint artworks on walls. This could be done with wet or dry plaster, each with its pros and cons.
Canvas paintings were popularized in the 14th century, following the development of oil paints. Canvas replaced the traditional wood panels that were used for painting up until that point, as it was cheaper to produce large quantities. Vincent van Gogh's A Starry Night is one of the most famous canvas paintings, detailing a stylized landscape under a starry night sky.
 |
Photography
Photography is a form of two-dimensional art that has a comparably short history compared to painting. Photography is the use of a camera to capture a still of an image that can be seen through the lens. There are many kinds of cameras, though modern digital cameras have mostly taken over. The first camera was used in the 1830s and was nothing like modern-day digital cameras. Louis-Jacques-Mande Daguerre, who had been experimenting with photogenic drawing, discovered that plates of iodized silver that have been exposed to sunlight can be exposed to mercury vapor to develop them. In 1837, he produced a photograph of his studio that he had taken by using a silvered copper plate exposed to light via a "camera obscura," which is a dark room with a small hole in one wall that allows light to pass through. This process of taking a still via iodized silver and developing it with mercury vapor became known as the "daguerreotype."
Photography was considered a minor art form until the late 19th century and early 20th century. Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen were avid proprietors for making photography a fine art, proving that the medium could be just as artistic and expressive as drawing and painting. They were also the ones responsible for introducing photography into museum collections.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
