Lines, Shapes, and Meaning

Lines are mysterious. They are drawn by the hand, they are seen by the eye, they appear in the world. Lines are what the hands draw, what the eyes see, and what the page represents. Lines form forms. Simple regular visual/spatial forms like dots, lines, and containers, have meanings that are readily apparent in context. They are used in the service of clear communication, to self and others, notably in diagrams and gesture. They are used to organize, indeed to diagram, the world. Other, messy sketchy lines are used for exploration and discovery.