A theory of pure design

The author defines design as order in human feeling and thought and analyzes its three principal modes—harmony, balance, and rhythm—then develops precise, often visual, criteria for applying those modes in drawing and painting. The book systematically treats positions, lines, outlines, tones, and sequences of values and colors, and sets out rules for tone-harmony, tone-balance, and tone-rhythm. Illustrated diagrams and examples accompany discussions of composition and of order found in nature, with the aim of clarifying artistic terms and providing a practical, teachable framework for understanding and criticizing visual design.