Contour Line

Contour Line is defined as "the perceived line that marks the border of an object in space." Based on the description in the context of the book, it is a line that gives dimension to shapes.

The work seen here is "Gonella, the Court Dwarf of the Dukes of Ferrara" and it is an oil painting on oak wood produced by Jan van Eyck with an unknown completion date. This is a great example of contour line because of the use of line to give the subject's face a three dimensional appearance. The lines in the cheek and forehead give "Gonella" some character and dimension and, in doing so, serve as a great example of contour line. Also, there are various other contour lines that show the different layers of clothing he is wearing, adding further to the depth of the image.