Line of beauty

My take on today's Mono Monday, subject 'Line'.
This month's mm challenges have been hosted by JDO - thank you so much, JDO..

The 'line of beauty' was first identified by the 18th century English painter and satirist William Hogarth and continued for quite a while to be part of the British artist's toolkit.  I believe it's still talked about at art colleges today, though probably not uncritically.

Hogarth describes it as being a shallow S-shaped curve, to which he gives the characteristics movement, liveliness, excitement.  

Here - as far as I can see - the dominant 'line of beauty' would run from the front of the tiddler's ballcap in a broad sweep over the profile, down from the chin to the armpit, down the inside of the arm, into the index finger, to the knee, down the shin and round the top of the shoe.  A pretty classic one, I'd say.

Hogarth reckoned that these 'lines of beauty' were contrasted with 'straight lines, parallel lines, or right-angled intersecting lines, which signify stasis, death, or inanimate objects'.  Which neatly pins down the railings at the back!

So for me this is mm74.  Besides, the way the little chap's leaning forward, as though seeking - and listening - for the future, just melted my heart (always a soppy organ).

Happy Monday evening  xx