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January 11, 2018 5 Comments

Examples of Unity in Art

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In this post from the elements and principles of art series on Art Class Curator, see varying examples of unity in art. From harmony with shape to unity using texture, find all of your unity in art examples in one place!

Unity in Art

Unity (also called harmony) is an important principle of design that gives the artwork a sense of cohesion or coherence. It is the wholeness or completeness of a picture. Unity and harmony in art are used by artists to tie a composition together and help the composition make sense as a whole piece of art.

The principles of design are ways to organize the elements of art (line, shape, color, form, space, value, texture) to create a wide range of effects. To create unity or harmony in art, artists arrange the similar components and elements of art to create consistency. Unity or harmony can also be created by merging the form and the meaning of the artwork together.

Unity and variety in art are often discussed together, because ultimately an artwork must contain both unity and variety to be a successful work of art, and there must be balance between the two.

“The essence of the beautiful is unity in variety.” – William Somerset Maugham

Unity can be very subtle when done well. A unified artwork will just look right, complete, and pleasing. Principles of art unity is not necessarily just a repetition of the same element over and over again, but it is the pleasing combination of elements to create the big picture.

principles of art unity Fernando Botero, The Musicians, 1991
Fernando Botero, The Musicians, 1991

Botero creates unity in The Musicians with form, shape, color, line, and space.

Download the Free Elements and Principles Printable Pack


This pack of printables was designed to work in a variety of ways in your classroom when teaching the elements and principles of art. You can print and hang in your classroom as posters/anchor charts or you can cut each element and principle of art in its own individual card to use as a lesson manipulative.

Examples of Unity in Art Using Shape/Form

Examples of Unity in Art Using Shape/Form
  • Gustav Klimt, The Kiss, 1907–08
  • Wassily Kandinsky, Circles in a Circle, 1923
  • Gustave Caillebotte, Fruit Displayed on a Stand, 1881
  • Piet Mondrian, Broadway Boogie Woogie, 1942
  • Salvador Dali, Galatea of the Spheres, 1952

principles of art unity Using Organic Shape

  • Caspar David Friedrich, The life stages (beach picture, beach scene in Wiek), ca. 1834
  • Kara Walker, Insurrection! (Our Tools Were Rudimentary, Yet We Pressed On), 2000
  • Rene Magritte, Golconda, 1953
  • Georges Seurat, A Sunday on La Grande Jette, 1884
Examples of Unity in Art Using Shape/Form
  • Duccio di Buoninsegna, The Maestà, 1308-1311
  • Fernando Botero, The Musicians, 1991
  • Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Spring, 1573
  • Romare Bearden, The Dove, 1964

Examples of Unity in Art Using Color

Examples of Unity in Art Using Color
  • Jasper Johns, Zero-Nine, 1960
  • Pablo PIcasso, The Old Guitarist, 1903-04
  • Johannes Vermeer, The Art of Painting, 1665-68

Examples of Unity in Art Using Texture

Examples of Unity in Art Using Texture
  • Claude Monet, Rue Montorgueil in Paris, 1878
  • Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Lady Lilith, 1868 (altered 1872-73)
  • Paul klee, Ad Parnassum, 1932
  • John Biggers, Baptism, 1989

Examples of Unity in Art Using Line

principles of art unity Using Line
  • Ben Shahn, Supermarket, 1957
  • Aubrey Beardsley, The Peacock Skirt, 1893
  • John Singer Sargent, White Ships, circa 1908
  • Pablo Picasso, The Dance of Youth, 1961
  • Marcel Duchamp, Nude Descending Staircase, 1912
  • Jose Diego Maria Rivera, Sugar Cane, 1931

Examples of Unity in Art Using Style

Examples of Unity in Art Using Style
  • Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1893
  • Roy Lichtenstein, Explosion from 9, 1967
  • Keith Haring, Untitled, 1988
  • Paul Cezanne, Mont Sainte-Victoire, 1904-06
  • Shen Zhou, Return from a Thousand Li, ca. 1480
  • Vincent Van Gogh, Wheatfield with Crows, 1890
  • Wayne Thiebaud, Paint Cans, 1990

Examples of Unity in Art Using Architecture

Examples of Unity in Art Using Architecture
  • Athens, Greece, Parthenon, 447 BC – 432 BC
  • Rome, Italy, Colosseum, 70-80 AD
  • Frank Lloyd Wright, The Guggenheim Museum, 1937

Principles of Art Unity Related Resources

  • This article from the Natomas High School Design Department includes more definitions of how to use unity in art.
  • Teach harmony and unity in art with a game.

Elements and Principles Teaching Bundle

This extraordinary bundle includes the best resources for teaching each of the elements and principles—37 worksheets/handouts, 15 lessons (with accompanying PowerPoints and Handouts), 3 ready-to-go art analysis activities, 3 art analysis videos, and 13 elements and principle PDF articles.

Buy Now

There you have it! The best examples of unity in art for your elements and principles of art lessons. Want more elements and principles of art teacher resources? Check out the below posts.



The Art Curator for Kids -Example Artworks that Show Space - The Elements and Principles of Art Series-300The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Line - The Elements and Principles of Art - 300The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Emphasis - The Elements and Principles of Art SeriesElements and Principles of Art - Artworks that Show Proportion in art and ScaleThe Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape - 300The Art Curator for Kids - Why I Hate the Elements and Principles But Teach Them Anyway - 300The Art Curator for Kids - How Artists Depict Space - Masterpiece Monday - John Sloan , South Beach Bathers, 1907-1908, Art Lessons for Kids - Elements of Art Lessons
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Filed Under: Elements and Principles of Art

 

You May Also Enjoy These Posts:

Artworks that Use ShapeThe Ultimate List of Texture in Art ExamplesThe Ultimate Collection of Principles of Design Examples and Definitions

Reader Interactions

5 Comments

  1. Ken

    July 12, 2020 at 8:41 am

    Love your mission! I also believe that art is essential and an integrator of other subjects. Very well written and thorough coverage of the elements and principles of art. We laminate two 8.5 X 11″ sheets side-by-side to make placemats to protect students’ desks. As a bonus, it reminds them of art vocabulary and visual examples to use as a reference when I’m teaching a lesson. Glad I found your site! Thanks!!

    Reply to this comment
  2. Zaquoya Denise Bell

    December 2, 2020 at 7:39 am

    I ❤️ ART

    Reply to this comment
  3. LucyDream Art

    February 7, 2024 at 12:03 am

    wow cool talk about a complete work of art by bringing together various elements of art (line, shape, color, form, space, value, texture) to create a variety of effects

    Reply to this comment
  4. Susie Shankwitz

    March 25, 2024 at 9:02 am

    Good morning. I don’t see a link to download the Unity lesson. Is there one?

    Reply to this comment
    • Amy Davis

      March 27, 2024 at 6:40 pm

      There is not a lesson download for this unity post. You can download the Elements & Principles freebie pack and utilize the suggested artworks on this post for a lesson.

      Reply to this comment

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